Polypeptides with endoglucanase activity and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, and polynucleotides encoding same, wherein the cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, have endoglucanase activity. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof; vectors and/or host cells comprising the polynucleotides encoding said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof; and methods for making and/or using said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof and/or compositions containing same; wherein said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, have endoglucanase activity.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/435,340, filed Dec. 16, 2016, and Bangladesh Application No. 306/2106, filed Dec. 15, 2016, the entire content which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Disclosed herein are cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, and polynucleotides encoding same, wherein the cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, have endoglucanase activity. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof; vectors and/or host cells comprising the polynucleotides encoding said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof; and methods for making and/or using said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof and/or compositions containing same; wherein said cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, have endoglucanase activity.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

The content of the sequence listing electronically submitted with the application as an ASCII text file named 20171211_NB41187WOPCT_SeqLst.txt, created Dec. 11, 2017 and having a size of 181 kilobytes and is filed concurrently with the specification. The sequence listing contained in this ASCII formatted document is part of the specification and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Cellulase enzymes are glycoside hydrolase enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of beta-1,4glycosidic linkages in cellulose to break it down into monosaccharides or shorter polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Generally, cellulase enzymes contain a cellulose binding module (CBM) and a catalytic domain that are separated by a flexible spacer known as a “linker” or “linker peptide”. The catalytic domains of cellulases are classified by both the Enzyme Commission (EC) and the Glycoside Hydrolase (GH) family systems.

The Enzyme Commission has identified two classes of cellulases, the endocellulases, which are classified as EC 3.2.1.4 enzymes and also referred to as endoglucanases, and the exocellulases, which are classified as EC 3.2.1.91 enzymes and also referred to as cellobiohydrolases or exoglucanase. The endoglucanases randomly cleave internal bonds at amorphous sites that create new chain ends, whereas the exoglucanases cleave two to four units from the ends of the exposed chains created by the endoglucanases. The GH family system, on the other hand, groups cellulases based on enzyme structure and function resulting in a number of GH Families including, for example, GH Family 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 26, 44, 45, 48, 51, 61, and 74.

Cellulases are known to be useful, for example, in detergent compositions; for treating textiles; as animal feed additives; in processing of paper and pulp for smoothing fiber, enhancing drainage and de-inking; in the food industry for extracting and clarifying juice from fruits and vegetables and for mashing; and in reducing biomass to glucose that is then fermented and distilled to make low CO₂ cellulosic ethanol.

Cellulases are used in the textile industry to improve the feel and/or appearance of cotton-containing fabric by, for example, removing fuzz (untangled fiber ends that protrude from the surface of yarn or fabric) and pills (bunches or balls of tangled fibers that are held to the surface of fabric by one or more fibers), and also helping to prevent pills, which make garments appear worn, from forming through subsequent consumer wash and wear cycles. This process is known as “depilling” or “biopolishing”. Cellulases are also used to impart, for example, a distressed or “stonewashed” appearance to cotton-containing denim. This process is known as “bio-stoning” and has largely replaced stones for generating the soft, faded denim desired by consumers.

Cellulases are used in detergent compositions, for example, to enhance soil removal, remove pills, brighten fabric colors, and soften fabric. The detergent compositions to which cellulases are added also often contain other enzymes, such as, for example, proteases, making it important for the cellulase to be stable in the presence of these other enzymes, as well as, other detergent additives, such as, for example, surfactants. If the cellulase is not stable, the protease, for example, will degrade the cellulase over time negating the laundering benefits associated with the cellulase. As a result, there remains a need in the art for cellulases that are stable in the presence of one or more other enzyme, such as, for example, protease and/or one or more other detergent components, such as, for example, a surfactant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a plasmid map of pTTT-pyr2-stce1.

FIGS. 2A-2H provide an alignment of the catalytic core region that was generated via a MUSCLE multiple sequence alignment of STCE1-WT cellulase and variants thereof with other GH45 cellulases described in Example 4.

FIGS. 3A-3B provide an alignment of the linker region that was generated via a MUSCLE multiple sequence alignment of STCE1-WT cellulase and variants thereof with other GH45 cellulases described in Example 4.

FIGS. 4A-4B provide an alignment of the C-terminal region that was generated via a MUSCLE multiple sequence alignment of STCE1-WT cellulase and variants thereof with other GH45 cellulases described in Example 4.

One embodiment is directed to a cellulase variant, or an active fragment thereof, comprising an amino acid sequence comprising two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from: (i) 4, 23, 29, 32, 34, 36, 44, 51, 65, 77, 80, 87, 90, 97, 98, 99, 102, 112, 116, 119, 135, 136, 142, 153, 154, 156, 157, 161, 163, 178, 192, 194, 202, 204, 205, 206, 208, 210, 212, 217, 221, 222, 225, 227, 232, 233, 236, 237, 238, 241, 247, 249, and 258; (ii) 4, 29, 32, 36, 51, 77, 80, 87, 90, 102, 112, 116, 135, 136, 142, 153, 154, 161, 163, 192, 204, 210, 217, 221, 225, and 227; (iii) 4V, 23L, 29W, 32D/G/Y, 34D, 36T, 44V, 51T, 65G, 77K/M, 80S, 87A, 90A, 97S, 98G/Y, 99E/H/Y, 102K, 112S/T/V, 116V, 119L, 135T, 136E/K/S, 142E/P, 153D, 154E, 156G, 157D, 161E/P, 163V, 178H, 192V, 194S, 202E, 204S, 205D, 206S, 208H/K, 210V, 212S, 217G/M, 221L/M, 222A, 225K, 227R, 232T, 233A/S, 236A, 237D, 238D, 241A/L/R, 247T, 249G/P, and 258K; (iv) 4V, 29W, 32D, 36T, 51T, 77K/M, 80S, 87A, 90A, 102K, 112S/T, 116V, 135T, 136E, 142P, 153D, 154E, 161P, 163V, 192V, 204S, 210V, 217G, 221L, 225K, and 227R; (v) K4, S23, F29, S32, N34, Q36, K44, S51, D65, S77, N80, G87, E90, P97, V98, A99, T102, G112, T116, F119, S135, P136, A142, S153, Q154, D156, S157, A161, K163, N178, L192, A194, D202, G204, N205, F206, V208, T210, P212, S217, S221, S222, S225, K227, S232, T233, T236, S237, T238, T241, A247, S249, and G258; (vi) K4, F29, S32, Q36, S51, S77, N80, G87, E90, T102, G112, T116, S135, P136, A142, S153, Q154, A161, K163, L192, G204, T210, S217, S221, S225, and K227; (vii) K4V, S23L, F29W, S32D/G/Y, N34D, Q36T, K44V, S51T, D65G, S77K/M, N80S, G87A, E90A, P97S, V98G/Y, A99E/H/Y, T102K, G112S/TN, T116V, F119L, S135T, P36E/K/S, A142E/P, S153D, Q154E, D156G, S157D, A161E/P, K163V, N178H, L192V, A194S, D202E, G204S, N205D, F206S, V208H/K, T210V, P212S, S217G/M, S221L/M, S222A, S225K, K227R, S232T, T233A/S, T236A, S237D, T238D, T241A/L/R, A247T, S249G/P, and G258K; or (viii) K4V, F29W, S32D, Q36T, S51T, S77K/M, N80S, G87A, E90A, T102K, G112S/T, T116V, S135T, P136E, A142P, S153D, Q154E, A161P, K163V, L192V, G204S, T210V, S217G, S221L, S225K, and K227R; wherein said variant has endoglucanase activity, and wherein the amino acid positions of the variant, or active fragment thereof, are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. In other embodiments, one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein comprises: (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 3; and/or (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 4. In another embodiment, the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof is derived from a parent or reference polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75. In still yet another embodiment, the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof is a family GH45 cellulase.

In one embodiment, the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, has one or more improved property selected from improved thermostability, improved stability in the presence of one or more other enzyme, and improved stability in the presence of one or more other enzyme and one or more other detergent component. In another embodiment, the other enzyme is protease and/or the other detergent component is a surfactant. In some embodiments, the improved property is improved when compared to the parent or reference polypeptide.

A further embodiment is directed to a composition comprising said cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof; a vector and/or host cell comprising said cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof; and a method for making and/or using said variant, or active fragment thereof and/or said compositions containing such variants, or active fragments thereof; wherein said cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, has endoglucanase activity.

The features of the cellulase variants described herein make them well-suited for use in detergent compositions, textile processing, paper and pulp processing, and other industrial applications, such as, for example, to impart soil release or fabric care benefits and/or improve the feel and/or appearance of a cotton-containing fabric.

The following terms are defined for clarity. Terms not defined should be accorded their ordinary meaning as used in the art. For example, technical and scientific terms not defined herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art (See, e.g., Singleton and Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d Ed., John Wiley and Sons, N Y 1994; and Hale and Marham, The Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology, Harper Perennial, N Y 1991).

The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The term “about” when used in connection with a numerical value refers to a range of −10% to +10% of the numerical value. For instance, the phrase a “pH value of about 6” refers to pH values of from 5.4 to 6.6.

The term “adjunct ingredient” when used in conjunction with a detergent or fabric care composition means any liquid, solid or gaseous material selected for the particular type of detergent or fabric care composition desired and the form of the product (e.g., liquid, granule, powder, bar, paste, spray, tablet, gel, unit dose, sheet, or foam composition), which materials are also preferably compatible with the cellulase variant or active fragment thereof used in the composition. In some embodiments, granular compositions are in “compact” form, while in other embodiments, the liquid compositions are in a “concentrated” form.

The term “cellulase variant” refers to a recombinant polypeptide that is derived from a parent or reference polypeptide by the substitution, addition, or deletion, of one or more amino acids. A cellulase variant may differ from a parent polypeptide by a small number of amino acid residues and may be defined by their level of primary amino acid sequence homology/identity with a parent polypeptide. For example, a cellulase variant has at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity with a parent (or reference) polypeptide.

The term “mutation” refers to any change or alteration in an amino acid sequence, including the substitution of an amino acid at the identified position of an amino acid sequence with an amino acid that is different from the starting amino acid, deletion of an amino acid at the identified position of an amino acid sequence, insertion of an amino acid at the identified position of an amino acid sequence, replacement of an amino acid side chain in an amino acid sequence, and or chemical modification of an amino acid sequence.

The terms “detergent composition” and “detergent formulation” refer to mixtures of chemical ingredients intended for use in a wash medium to clean soiled objects. Detergent compositions/formulations may include, for example, one or more surfactant, hydrolytic enzyme, oxido-reductase, builder, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bluing agent, fluorescent dye, caking inhibitor, masking agent, enzyme activator, antioxidant, chelant, polymer, foam regulator, fragrance, and solubilizer.

The term “derived from” encompasses the terms “originated from,” “obtained from,” “obtainable from,” “isolated from,” and “created from” and generally indicates that one specified material find its origin in another specified material or has features that can be described with reference to the another specified material.

The term “effective amount” when used in conjunction with a cellulase variant or active fragment thereof refers to the quantity of cellulase variant or active fragment thereof needed to achieve the desired level of endoglucanase activity in the specified application or detergent or fabric care composition. Such effective amounts are readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the art and are based on many factors, such as the particular cellulase variant or active fragment thereof that is used, the application, the specific composition of the cleaning composition (including the particular protease contained therein), and whether a liquid or dry (e.g., granular, bar, powder, solid, liquid, tablet, gel, paste, foam, sheet, or unit dose) composition is required.

The term “endoglucanase” refers to an endo-1,4-(1,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.4), which catalyzes endohydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, cellulose derivatives (such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose), lichenin, beta-1,4 bonds in mixed beta-1,3 glucans such as cereal beta-D-glucans or xyloglucans, and other plant material containing cellulosic components. Endoglucanase activity can be determined according to the procedure described in the examples.

The term “expression vector” refers to a DNA construct containing a DNA sequence that encodes the specified polypeptide and is operably linked to a suitable control sequence capable of effecting the expression of the polypeptides in a suitable host. Such control sequences include a promoter to effect transcription, an optional operator sequence to control such transcription, a sequence encoding suitable mRNA ribosome binding sites, and sequences which control termination of transcription and translation. The vector may be a plasmid, a phage particle, or simply a potential genomic insert. Once transformed into a suitable host, the vector may replicate and function independently of the host genome, or may, in some instances, integrate into the genome itself.

The term “fabric” refers to, for example, woven, knit, and non-woven material, as well as staple fibers and filaments that can be converted to, for example, yarns and woven, knit, and non-woven fabrics. The term encompasses material made from natural, as well as synthetic (e.g., manufactured) fibers.

The terms “fabric care composition” or “fabric care formulation” refer to a composition/formulation containing a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein that will, when added to a wash medium, remove pills and/or fuzz from fabric; brighten fabric colors; and/or soften fabric.

The term “family GH45” refers to a polypeptide that is classified as glycoside hydrolase Family 45 according to Henrissat B., 1991, A classification of glycosyl hydrolases based on amino-acid sequence similarities, Biochem. J. 280: 309-316, and Henrissat and Bairoch, 1996, Updating the sequence-based classification of glycosyl hydrolases, Biochem. J. 316: 695-696 and classified based on structure and function relationships CMin the Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes Database, CAZy (URL: http://afmb.cnrs-mrs.fr/˜cazy/CAZY/index.html).

The term “host cells” generally refers to prokaryotic or eukaryotic hosts which are transformed or transfected with vectors constructed using recombinant DNA techniques known in the art. Transformed host cells are capable of either replicating vectors encoding the protein variants or expressing the desired protein variant. In the case of vectors which encode the pre- or pro-form of the protein variant, such variants, when expressed, are typically secreted from the host cell into the host cell medium.

The term “hybridization” refers to the process by which a strand of nucleic acid joins with a complementary strand through base pairing, as known in the art.

The term “hybridization conditions” refers to the conditions under which hybridization reactions are conducted. These conditions are typically classified by degree of “stringency” of the conditions under which hybridization is measured. The degree of stringency can be based, for example, on the melting temperature (T_(m)) of the nucleic acid binding complex or probe. For example, “maximum stringency” typically occurs at about T_(m)−5° C. (5° below the T_(m) of the probe); “high stringency” at about 5-10° C. below the T_(m); “intermediate stringency” at about 10-20° C. below the T_(m) of the probe; and “low stringency” at about 20-25° C. below the T_(m). Alternatively, or in addition, hybridization conditions can be based upon the salt or ionic strength conditions of hybridization and/or one or more stringency washes, e.g., 6×SSC=very low stringency; 3×SSC=low to medium stringency; 1×SSC=medium stringency; and 0.5×SSC=high stringency. Functionally, maximum stringency conditions may be used to identify nucleic acid sequences having strict identity or near-strict identity with the hybridization probe; while high stringency conditions are used to identify nucleic acid sequences having about 80% or more sequence identity with the probe. For applications requiring high selectivity, it is typically desirable to use relatively stringent conditions to form the hybrids (e.g., relatively low salt and/or high temperature conditions are used).

The term “introduced” in the context of inserting a nucleic acid sequence into a cell, means transformation, transduction, or transfection. Means of transformation include protoplast transformation, calcium chloride precipitation, electroporation, naked DNA, and the like as known in the art. (See, Chang and Cohen [1979] Mol. Gen. Genet. 168:111-115; Smith et al. [1986] Appl. Env. Microbiol. 51:634; and the review article by Ferrari et al., in Harwood, Bacillus, Plenum Publishing Corporation, pp. 57-72, 1989).

A nucleic acid or polynucleotide is “isolated” when it is at least partially or completely separated from other components, including but not limited to, for example, other proteins, nucleic acids, and cells. Similarly, a polypeptide, protein or peptide is “isolated” when it is at least partially or completely separated from other components, including but not limited to, for example, other proteins, nucleic acids, and cells. On a molar basis, an isolated species is more abundant than are other species in a composition. For example, an isolated species may comprise at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% (on a molar basis) of all macromolecular species present. Preferably, the species of interest is purified to essential homogeneity (i.e., contaminant species cannot be detected in the composition by conventional detection methods). Purity and homogeneity can be determined using a number of techniques well known in the art, such as agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of a nucleic acid or a protein sample, respectively, followed by visualization upon staining. If desired, a high-resolution technique, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or a similar means can be utilized for purification of the material. The term “other detergent component” refers to a non-enzyme component that is added to a detergent composition or formulation, such as, for example, a surfactant, oxido-reductase, builder, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bluing agent, fluorescent dye, caking inhibitor, masking agent, enzyme activator, antioxidant, chelant, polymer, foam regulator, fragrance, and solubilizer.

The term “other enzyme” refers to a second, third, fourth, etc enzyme that is added to a detergent composition, wherein the first enzyme is a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof described herein. Examples of other enzymes include, for example, acyl transferases, amylases, alpha-amylases, beta-amylases, alpha-galactosidases, arabinases, arabinosidases, aryl esterases, beta-galactosidases, beta-glucanases, carrageenases, catalases, chondroitinases, cutinases, endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, esterases, exo-mannanases, galactanases, glucoamylases, hemicellulases, hyaluronidases, keratinases, laccases, lactases, ligninases, lipases, lipolytic enzymes, lipoxygenases, mannanases, metalloproteases, oxidases, oxidoreductases, pectate lyases, pectin acetyl esterases, pectinases, pentosanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, phenoloxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phytases, polyesterases, polygalacturonases, proteases, pullulanases, reductases, rhamnogalacturonases, second cellulase, beta-glucanases, tannases, transglutaminases, xylan acetyl-esterases, xylanases, xylosidases, and combinations thereof.

The terms “polynucleotide” encompasses DNA, RNA, heteroduplexes, and synthetic molecules capable of encoding a polypeptide. Nucleic acids may be single-stranded or double-stranded, and may have chemical modifications. The terms “nucleic acid” and “polynucleotide” are used interchangeably. Because the genetic code is degenerate, more than one codon may be used to encode a particular amino acid, and the present compositions and methods encompass nucleotide sequences which encode a particular amino acid sequence. Unless otherwise indicated, nucleic acid sequences are presented in a 5′-to-3′ orientation.

The term “polypeptide” refers to a molecule comprising a plurality of amino acids linked through peptide bonds. The terms “polypeptide,” “peptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably. Proteins may optionally be modified (e.g., glycosylated, phosphorylated, acylated, farnesylated, prenylated, and sulfonated) to add functionality. Where such amino acid sequences exhibit activity, they may be referred to as an “enzyme”. The conventional one-letter or three-letter codes for amino acid residues are used, with amino acid sequences being presented in the standard amino-to-carboxy terminal orientation (i.e., N→C).

The term “recombinant,” refers to genetic material (i.e., nucleic acids, the polypeptides they encode, and vectors and cells comprising such polynucleotides) that has been modified to alter its sequence or expression characteristics, such as, for example, by mutating the coding sequence to produce an altered polypeptide, fusing the coding sequence to that of another gene, placing a gene under the control of a different promoter, expressing a gene in a heterologous organism, expressing a gene at a decreased or elevated level, and expressing a gene conditionally or constitutively in manner different from its natural expression profile. Generally recombinant nucleic acids, polypeptides, and cells based thereon, have been manipulated by man such that they are not identical to related nucleic acids, polypeptides, and/or cells found in nature.

The term “second cellulase” refers to a second cellulase enzyme that is added to a detergent composition, wherein the first cellulase enzyme is a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof described herein. This second cellulase enzyme, includes, for example, cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases, xyloglucanases, and combinations thereof.

The term “signal sequence” refers to a sequence of amino acids bound to the N-terminal portion of a polypeptide, and which facilitates the secretion of the mature form of the protein from the cell. The mature form of the extracellular protein lacks the signal sequence which is cleaved off during the secretion process.

The term “surfactant” refers to any compound generally recognized in the art as having surface active qualities. Surfactants can include, for example, anionic, cationic, nonionic, and zwitterionic compounds, which are further described, herein.

The terms “thermostability” and “thermostable” refer to cellulase variants that retain a specified amount of endoglucanase activity after exposure to elevated temperatures over a given period of time under conditions prevailing during cleaning, textile treatment, or other process, for example, while exposed to elevated temperatures. In some embodiments, the one or more cellulase variant retains at least about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 92%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99% endoglucanase activity after exposure to elevated temperatures, for example, at least about 50° C., about 55° C., about 60° C., about 65° C., or about 70° C., over a given time period, for example, at least about about 10 minutes, about 30 minutes, about 60 minutes, about 120 minutes, about 180 minutes, about 240 minutes, about 300 minutes, etc.

The term “variant polynucleotide” refers to a polynucleotide that encodes a cellulase variant, has a specified degree of homology/identity with a parent polynucleotide, or hybridizes under stringent conditions to a parent polynucleotide or the complement, thereof. For example, a variant polynucleotide has at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% nucleotide sequence identity with a parent polynucleotide.

The terms, “wild-type” or “parental” with respect to a polypeptide, refer to a naturally-occurring polypeptide that does not include a man-made substitution, insertion, or deletion at one or more amino acid positions. Similarly, the terms “wild-type” or “parental,”, with respect to a polynucleotide, refer to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide that does not include a man-made substitution, insertion, or deletion at one or more nucleosides. A polynucleotide encoding a wild-type or parental polypeptide is, however, not limited to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide, and encompasses any polynucleotide encoding the wild-type or parental polypeptide.

The term “naturally-occurring” refers to, for example, a sequence and residues contained therein (e.g., polypeptide sequence and amino acids contained therein or nucleic acid sequence and nucleic acids contained therein) that are found in nature. Conversely, the term “non-naturally occurring” refers to, for example, a sequence and residues contained therein (e.g., polypeptide sequences and amino acids contained therein or nucleic acid sequence and nucleic acids contained therein) that are not found in nature.

The term “reference”, with respect to a polypeptide, refers to a naturally-occurring polypeptide that does not include a man-made substitution, insertion, or deletion at one or more amino acid positions, as well as a naturally-occurring or synthetic polypeptide that includes one or more man-made substitutions, insertions, or deletions at one or more amino acid positions. Similarly, the term “reference”, with respect to a polynucleotide, refers to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide that does not include a man-made substitution, insertion, or deletion of one or more nucleosides, as well as a naturally-occurring or synthetic polynucleotide that includes one or more man-made substitutions, insertions, or deletions at one or more nucleosides. For example, a polynucleotide encoding a wild-type or parental polypeptide is not limited to a naturally-occurring polynucleotide, and encompasses any polynucleotide encoding the wild-type or parental polypeptide.

The amino acid substitutions described herein use one or more following nomenclatures: position or starting amino acid:position:substituted amino acid(s). Reference to only a position encompasses any starting amino acid that may be present in a reference polypeptide, parent or wild-type molecule at that position and any amino acid with which such starting amino acid may be substituted (i.e., amino acid substitutions exclude the starting amino acid of such reference polypeptide, parent or wild-type molecule). Reference to a substituted amino acid or a starting amino acid may be further expressed as several substituted amino acids or several starting amino acids separated by a foreslash (“/”). For example, X130A/N-209-213 represents a three amino acid substitution combination, wherein X is any starting amino acid at position 130 that can be substituted with an alanine (A) or an asparagine (N); 209 represents a position where any starting amino acid can be substituted with an amino acid that is not the starting amino acid; and 213 represents a position where any starting amino acid can be substituted with an amino acid that is not the starting amino acid. By way of further example, E/Q/S101F/G/H/T/V represents five possible substitutions at position 101, wherein the starting amino acid glutamate (E), glutamine (Q), or serine (S) can be substituted with a phenylalanine (F), glycine (G), histidine (H), threonine (T), or valine (V).

The one letter code “Z” identifies an insertion or deletion in a parent or reference amino acid sequence. For an insertion relative to the parent or reference sequence, the one letter code “Z” is on the left side of the position number and further includes a number (e.g., 0.01) before each amino acid being inserted therein to indicate the order of the insertions. For example, the insertion of a one amino acid, glutamine (Q), at position 298 would be depicted as “Z298.01Q”; the insertion of one amino acid, X (where X can be any amino acid) at position 298 would be depicted as “Z298.01X”; and the insertion of three amino acids alanine (A), serine (S) and tyrosine (Y) between position 87 and 88 would be depicted as “Z87.01A/Z87.02S/Z87.03Y”. For a deletion, the one letter code “Z” is on the right side of the position number. For example, the deletion of an alanine (A) from position 100 would be depicted as A100Z. A combination of some the above insertions and deletions would be depicted as: “G87S/Z87.01A/Z87.02S/Z87.03Y/A100Z”.

Sequence identity may be determined using known programs such as BLAST, ALIGN, and CLUSTAL using standard parameters. (See, e.g., Altschul et al. [1990] J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; Henikoff et al. [1989] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915; Karin et al. [1993] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 90:5873; and Higgins et al. [1988] Gene 73:237-244). Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Databases may also be searched using FASTA (Pearson et al. [1988] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444-2448). One indication that two polypeptides are substantially identical is that the first polypeptide is immunologically cross-reactive with the second polypeptide. Typically, polypeptides that differ by conservative amino acid substitutions are immunologically cross-reactive. Thus, a polypeptide is substantially identical to a second polypeptide, for example, where the two peptides differ only by a conservative substitution. Another useful algorithm for comparison of multiple protein sequences is the MUSCLE program (Robert C. Edgar. MUSCLE: multiple sequence alignment with high accuracy and high throughput Nucl. Acids Res. (2004) 32 (5): 1792-1797) accessed from Geneious software (Biomatters Ltd.).

One embodiment is directed to a cellulase variant, or an active fragment thereof, comprising an amino acid sequence comprising two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from: (i) 4, 23, 29, 32, 34, 36, 44, 51, 65, 77, 80, 87, 90, 97, 98, 99, 102, 112, 116, 119, 135, 136, 142, 153, 154, 156, 157, 161, 163, 178, 192, 194, 202, 204, 205, 206, 208, 210, 212, 217, 221, 222, 225, 227, 232, 233, 236, 237, 238, 241, 247, 249, and 258; (ii) 4, 29, 32, 36, 51, 77, 80, 87, 90, 102, 112, 116, 135, 136, 142, 153, 154, 161, 163, 192, 204, 210, 217, 221, 225, and 227; (iii) 4V, 23L, 29W, 32D/G/Y, 34D, 36T, 44V, 51T, 65G, 77K/M, 80S, 87A, 90A, 97S, 98G/Y, 99E/H/Y, 102K, 112S/T/V, 116V, 119L, 135T, 136E/K/S, 142E/P, 153D, 154E, 156G, 157D, 161E/P, 163V, 178H, 192V, 194S, 202E, 204S, 205D, 206S, 208H/K, 210V, 212S, 217G/M, 221L/M, 222A, 225K, 227R, 232T, 233A/S, 236A, 237D, 238D, 241A/L/R, 247T, 249G/P, and 258K; (iv) 4V, 29W, 32D, 36T, 51T, 77K/M, 80S, 87A, 90A, 102K, 112S/T, 116V, 135T, 136E, 142P, 153D, 154E, 161P, 163V, 192V, 204S, 210V, 217G, 221L, 225K, and 227R; (v) K4, S23, F29, S32, N34, Q36, K44, S51, D65, S77, N80, G87, E90, P97, V98, A99, T102, G112, T116, F119, S135, P136, A142, S153, Q154, D156, S157, A161, K163, N178, L192, A194, D202, G204, N205, F206, V208, T210, P212, S217, S221, S222, S225, K227, S232, T233, T236, S237, T238, T241, A247, S249, and G258; (vi) K4, F29, S32, Q36, S51, S77, N80, G87, E90, T102, G112, T116, S135, P136, A142, S153, Q154, A161, K163, L192, G204, T210, S217, S221, S225, and K227; (vii) K4V, S23L, F29W, S32D/G/Y, N34D, Q36T, K44V, S51T, D65G, S77K/M, N80S, G87A, E90A, P97S, V98G/Y, A99E/H/Y, T102K, G112S/TN, T116V, F119L, S135T, P36E/K/S, A142E/P, S153D, Q154E, D156G, S157D, A161E/P, K163V, N178H, L192V, A194S, D202E, G204S, N205D, F206S, V208H/K, T210V, P212S, S217G/M, S221L/M, S222A, S225K, K227R, S232T, T233A/S, T236A, S237D, T238D, T241A/L/R, A247T, S249G/P, and G258K; or (viii) K4V, F29W, S32D, Q36T, S51T, S77K/M, N80S, G87A, E90A, T102K, G112S/T, T116V, S135T, P136E, A142P, S153D, Q154E, A161P, K163V, L192V, G204S, T210V, S217G, S221L, S225K, and K227R; wherein said variant has endoglucanase activity, and wherein the amino acid positions of the variant, or active fragment thereof, are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. Another embodiment is directed to a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, comprising an amino acid sequence comprising two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from: (i) 142+161, 4+142, 36+142, 4+77, 77+142, 87+142, 87+161, 142+204, 4+161, 161+204, 102+161, 142+192, 142+227, 153+161, 4+102, 4+210, 29+153, 32+142, 36+161, 36+221, 36+225, 87+204, 90+142, 116+161, 135+142, 135+154, 135+161, 136+161, 204+221, 4V+80S, 4+153, 4+221, 32+36, 32+142, 77+142, 77+153, 77+161, 77+221, 80+142, 87+153, 87+192, 87+221, 102+136, 102+142, 102+154, 112+135, 112+142, 142+153, 142+217, 142+221, 153+210, 154+161, 161+192, and 161+221; (ii) 142P+161P, 4V+142P, 36T+142P, 4V+77K, 77K+142P, 87A+142P, 87A+161P, 142P+204S, 4V+161P, 161P+204S, 102K+161P, 142P+192V, 142P+227R, 153D+161P, 4V+102K, 4V+210V, 29W+153D, 32D+142P, 36T+161P, 36T+221L, 36T+225K, 87A+204S, 90A+142P, 116V+161P, 135T+142P, 135T+154E, 135T+161P, 136E+161P, 204S+221L, 4V+80S, 4V+153D, 4V+221L, 32D+36T, 32Y+142P, 77M+142P, 77K+153D, 77K+161P, 77K+221L, 80S+142P, 87A+153D, 87A+192V, 87A+221L, 102K+136E, 102K+142P, 102K+154E, 112T+135T, 112S+142P, 142P+153D, 142P+217G, 142P+221L, 153D+210V, 154E+161P, 161P+192V, and 161P+221L; or (iii) A142P+A161P, K4V+A142P, Q36T+A142P, K4V+S77K, S77K+A142P, G87A+A142P, G87A+A161P, A142P+G204S, K4V+A161P, A161P+G204S, T102K+A161P, A142P+L192V, A142P+K227R, S153D+A161P, K4V+T102K, K4V+T210V, F29W+S153D, S32D+A142P, Q36T+A161P, Q36T+S221L, Q36T+S225K, G87A+G204S, E90A+A142P, T116V+A161P, S135T+A142P, S135T+Q154E, S135T+A161P, P136E+A161P, G204S+S221L, K4V+N80S, K4V+S153D, K4V+S221L, S32D+Q36T, S32Y+A142P, S77M+A142P, S77K+S153D, S77K+A161P, S77K+S221L, N80S+A142P, G87A+S153D, G87A+L192V, G87A+S221L, T102K+P136E, T102K+A142P, T102K+Q154E, G112T+S135T, G112S+A142P, A142P+S153D, A142P+S217G, A142P+S221L, S153D+T210V, Q154E+A161P, A161P+L192V, and A161P+S221L; wherein said variant has endoglucanase activity, and wherein the amino acid positions of the variant, or active fragment thereof, are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. A still further embodiment is directed to a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, comprising an amino acid sequence comprising two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from: K4V-Q36T-S77M-T102K-Q154E-N178H-S225K-S232Z-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, K4V-K44V-S77K-E90A-S135T-A142P-Q154E-L192V-V208H-S221L-S232Z-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z-A247T, K4V-N80S-G87A-Q154E-A161P-G204S-S221L-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, 532Y-T102K-A142P-G204S-V208H-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z-A247T, K4V-K44V-S77K-N80S-T102K-G112T-S135T-A142P-L192V-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, S77M-A142P-K163V-V208H-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z-A247T, S77M-G87A-A99H-G112T-A142P-S232T-T233Z-T236A, S23L-A142P-D202E-S232T-T233Z, Q36T-S77K-G87A-A142P-S153D-A161P-G204S-S221L-S237D, K4V-F29W-S77K-T102K-P136E-S153D-A161P-T210V, A99Y-G112T-S135T-S153D-K227R, S23L-S32Y-G112T-A142P-A161P-G204S-S217G-K227R-S237D, F29W-Q36T-K44V-T116V-S135T-Q154E-A161P-S217G-S221L-S225K-T238D, K4V-Q36T-S77K-N80S-A142P-L192V-G204S-T210V-S221L, F29W-G87A-E90A-A99Y-A142P-S153D-K227R-S237D, K4V-S77M-Q154E-A161P-L192V-V208H-S217G-T233A-S237D, E90A-G112T-S135T-A161P-G204S, S51T-S77M-P136E-K163V-G204S-T210V-K227R, K4V-F29W-S51T-T116V-S135T-S221L-S225K, S77M-T102K-T116V-S135T-S153D-A161P-T238D, K4V-S23L-S32Y-N80S-T102K-A142P-A161P-S237D, K44V-G87A-Q154E-A161P, S32Y-A142P-Q154E-K163V-S217G-K227R-T233A, N34D-S51T-G87A-T102K-T116V-P136E-Q154E-A161P-L192V-T233A-T238D, K4V-S77K-E90A-A142P-S157D-G214Z-S217G-T233A-T238D, K4V-Q36T-S51T-N80S-S135T-S157D-T233A, K4V-S51T-V98G-S135T-Q154E-T233A, T102K-A142P-Q154E-G204S-K227R, S51T-G87A-A99Y-S135T-N205D-T238D, G87A-A142P-A161P-L192V-G204S-T241A, K4V-S77K-E90A-A142P-S157D-S217G-T233A-T238D, K4V-P136E-S153D-A161P-T210V-K227R, S51T-N80S-A142P-L192V-V208H, K4V-S23L-Q36T-S77M-G112T-S157D-A161P-L192V-S221L, Q36T-V98Y-A142P-A161E-S225K, Q36T-P136E-A142P-S225K-S249P, A99Y-P136E-A142P-A161E-S221L, S32D-Q36T-S221L-S225K, S32D-A99Y-A142P-A161E-S249P, K44V-A142P-A161P-K163V, S32D-Q36T-G112S-A142P, S32D-Q36T-S77M-S135T-A142P-A161P, F29W-S77M-A99E-A142P, G112S-P136K-A142E, S135T-A142P-K163V, K4V-G112S-S135T-A142P-A161P, S32D-Q36T-A99E-P136K-A142P, G112S-P136K-A142P-S217M-S221M-T241L-G258K, K4V-S77K-G112S-A142P-A194S-S249G-G258K, P97S-G112V-P136S-A142P-A161E-K163V-P212S-S222A, P97S-G112V-P136S-S153D-A161E-S225K-T241R, P97S-G112V-P136S-S153D-S225K-T241R, S32D-A142E-V208K-S225K-T241R, S32D-A142E, S51T-A99Y-F119L-P136E-Q154E-D156G-S217G, K44V-A142P-A161P-K163V-K227R-T236A, G112T-S135T-Q154E-T233S-Z233.01T-Z233.02T-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05S-Z233.06T-S237D, Q36T-S51T-V98G-T116V-A142P-A161P-T233S-Z233.01T-Z233.02A-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05K-Z233.06A-Z233.07T-Z233.08S-Z233.09T-Z233.10T, Q36T-S77K-G87A-A142P-S153D-A161P-D177Z-G204S-S221L-S237D, K4V-F29W-551T-D65G-S77M-T116V-S153D-K163V-G204S-F206S-T210V-S221L-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, S77M-S135T-Q154E-K163V-K227R-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05D-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T-S237D, K4V-S32G-Q36T-S77M-G87A-T116V-A142P-A161P-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04D-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, and S77M-G87A-P136E-S157D-S221L-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T-T236A-T238D-K286E; wherein said variant has endoglucanase activity, and wherein the amino acid positions of the variant, or active fragment thereof, are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

In a further embodiment, one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein further comprises one or more mutations selected from: (i) a deletion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions corresponding to any SEQ ID NO:1 position between positions 213 and 257; (ii) a deletion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from D177, S232, T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243; (iii) a deletion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from D177, S232, T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243, wherein said deletions are selected from D177Z, T233Z, T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, and S232Z-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z; (iv) an insertion of one, two, three, four, five, six, or more amino acid residues after a position corresponding to position 233 of SEQ ID NO:1; (v) an insertion of one, two, three, four, five, six, or more amino acid residues after a position corresponding to position 233 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said insertion is selected from Z233.01T-Z233.02T-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05S-Z233.06T, Z233.01T-Z233.02A-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05K-Z233.06A-Z233.07T-Z233.08S-Z233.09T-Z233.10T, Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05D-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04D-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, and Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T; and (vi) a combination of (i) to (v); wherein said variant has endoglucanase activity, and wherein the amino acid positions of the variant, or active fragment thereof, are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. An even still further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, with the proviso that one or more of said mutations is non-naturally occurring.

An even still yet further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). A yet further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). An even further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:70 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:70 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:70, set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). Another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:71; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:71 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:71 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:71 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). Still another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:72; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:72 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:72 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:72 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). Yet another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:73; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:73 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:73 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:73 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). Yet an even still yet further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:74; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:74 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:74 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:74 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv). An even still further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:75; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:75 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:75 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:75 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv).

Another further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from a parent or reference polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NOs:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75. Still another further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1. Still another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:70. A further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:71. A still further embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:72. Another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:73. Yet another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:74. Yet still another embodiment is directed to one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, wherein said variant is derived from the parent or reference polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:75.

In a further embodiment, the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein has one or more improved property selected from improved thermostability, improved stability in the presence of one or more other enzyme, and improved stability in the presence of one or more other enzyme and one or more other detergent component. In another embodiment, the other enzyme is protease and/or the other detergent component is a surfactant. In some embodiments, the improved property is improved when compared to the parent or reference polypeptide.

In other embodiments, the improved property is improved thermostability, and the variant, or active fragment thereof, has a thermal Performance Index (PI) that is greater than 1 or ≥1.1. In still other embodiments, the improved property is improved stability in the presence of one or more protease, and the variant, or active fragment thereof, has a PI that is greater than 1 or ≥1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, or 2.0 when the stability of said variant, or active fragment thereof is tested in the presence of said protease. In an even further embodiment, the improved property is improved stability in the presence of one or more protease and one or more other detergent component, and wherein said variant, or active fragment thereof, has a PI that is greater than 1 or ≥1.1, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 when the stability of said variant, or active fragment thereof is tested in the presence of said protease and said other detergent component. In yet a further embodiment, the PI is measured in accordance with the Cellulase Activity Assay of Example 1.

In one embodiment, the cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, described herein are family GH45 cellulases. In some embodiments, the cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, described herein are isolated.

Further embodiments are directed to a polynucleotide that encodes the cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, described herein. In one embodiment, the polynucleotide is contained in an expression vector contained in a heterologous organism. The polynucleotide may be operably-linked to regulatory elements (e.g., a promoter, terminator, and enhancer) to assist in expressing the encoded cellulase variants, or active fragments thereof, described herein. In some embodiments, the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein is expressed in a heterologous organism as a secreted polypeptide, in which case, the compositions and method encompass a method for expressing the variant or active fragment thereof as a secreted polypeptide in a heterologous organism.

DNA that encodes a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein can be chemically synthesized from published sequences or obtained directly from host cells harboring the gene (e.g., by cDNA library screening or PCR amplification).

Further embodiments are directed to methods of producing a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein comprising: stably transforming a host cell with an expression vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof; culturing the transformed host cell under suitable conditions to produce the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof; and recovering the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof.

In other embodiments, a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein is fused to a signal peptide for directing the extracellular secretion of the variant, or active fragment thereof. For example, in certain embodiments, the signal peptide is the native signal peptide of the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof described herein. In other embodiments, the signal peptide is a non-native signal peptide such as the B. subtilis AprE signal peptide.

In some embodiments, the host cell in which the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein is expressed in a heterologous organism, i.e., an organism other than Staphylotrichum spp. Exemplary heterologous organisms, include, for example, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. lentus, B. brevis, Geobacillus (formerly Bacillus) stearothermophilus, B. alkalophilus, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. coagulans, B. circulans, B. lautus, B. megaterium, B. thuringiensis, S. lividans, S. murinus, P. fluorescens, P. stutzerei, P. mirabilis, R. eutropha, S. carnosus, L. lactis, E. coli, yeast (such as, for example, Saccharomyces spp. or Schizosaccharomyces spp., e.g. S. cerevisiae), C. lucknowense, and filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus spp., e.g., A. oryzae or A. niger, H. grisea, H. insolens, and T. reesei. Methods for transforming nucleic acids into these organisms are well known in the art. A suitable procedure for transformation of Aspergillus host cells is described, for example, in EP238023. A suitable procedure for transformation of Trichoderma host cells is described, for example, in Steiger et al 2011, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77:114-121.

In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is codon-optimized for expression in a different host, mutated to introduce cloning sites, or otherwise altered to add functionality.

In some embodiments, expression vectors are provided in a heterologous host cell suitable for expressing the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein, or suitable for propagating the expression vector prior to introducing it into a suitable host cell. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide is included in an expression cassette and/or cloned into a suitable expression vector by standard molecular cloning techniques. Such expression cassettes or vectors contain sequences that assist initiation and termination of transcription (e.g., promoters and terminators), and generally contain a selectable marker

In some embodiments, a polynucleotide that encodes a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, hybridizes to a polynucleotide encoding one or more of the variants described herein or the complement thereof under specified hybridization conditions. The term “hybridization” refers to the process by which a strand of nucleic acid joins with a complementary strand through base pairing, as known in the art. The term “hybridization conditions” refers to the conditions under which hybridization reactions are conducted. These conditions are typically classified by degree of “stringency” of the conditions under which hybridization is measured. The degree of stringency can be based, for example, on the melting temperature (T_(m)) of the nucleic acid binding complex or probe. For example, “maximum stringency” typically occurs at about T_(m)−5° C. (5° below the T_(m) of the probe); “high stringency” at about 5-10° C. below the T_(m); “intermediate stringency” at about 10-20° C. below the T_(m) of the probe; and “low stringency” at about 20-25° C. below the T_(m). Alternatively, or in addition, hybridization conditions can be based upon the salt or ionic strength conditions of hybridization and/or one or more stringency washes, e.g., 6×SSC=very low stringency; 3×SSC=low to medium stringency; 1×SSC=medium stringency; and 0.5×SSC=high stringency. Functionally, maximum stringency conditions may be used to identify nucleic acid sequences having strict identity or near-strict identity with the hybridization probe; while high stringency conditions are used to identify nucleic acid sequences having about 80% or more sequence identity with the probe. For applications requiring high selectivity, it is typically desirable to use relatively stringent conditions to form the hybrids (e.g., relatively low salt and/or high temperature conditions are used).

A further embodiment is directed to a composition comprising one or more cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, describe herein. In another embodiment, the composition is selected from an enzyme composition, detergent composition, and fabric care composition. In some embodiments, the composition is an enzyme composition. In other embodiments, the composition is a detergent composition. In still other embodiments, the composition is a fabric care composition. In yet other embodiments, the detergent composition is a laundry detergent. In still other embodiments, the laundry detergent is selected from heavy-duty liquid (HDL) laundry detergent and heavy-duty dry (HDD) granular laundry detergent.

In some further embodiments, the composition is in a form selected from a powder, liquid, granular, bar, solid, semi-solid, gel, paste, emulsion, tablet, capsule, unit dose, sheet, and foam. In even further embodiments, the composition is in a form selected from a liquid, powder, granulated solid, tablet, sheet, and unit dose. In some embodiments, the compositions described herein are provided in unit dose form, including tablets, capsules, sachets, pouches, sheets, and multi-compartment pouches. In some embodiments, the unit dose format is designed to provide controlled release of the ingredients within a multi-compartment pouch (or other unit dose format). Suitable unit dose and controlled release formats are known in the art (See e.g., EP2100949, EP2100947, WO02/102955, WO04/111178, WO2013/165725, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,765,916 and 4,972,017). In some embodiments, the unit dose form is provided by tablets wrapped with a water-soluble film or water-soluble pouches.

In yet even further embodiments, the composition contains phosphate or is phosphate-free and/or contains boron or is boron-free. In still other embodiments, the composition contains phosphate. In yet still other embodiments, the composition is phosphate-free. In even still further embodiments, the composition contains boron. In yet even still further embodiments, the composition is boron-free.

In yet other embodiments, the composition further comprises (i) one or more other enzymes selected from acyl transferases, amylases, alpha-amylases, beta-amylases, alpha-galactosidases, arabinases, arabinosidases, aryl esterases, beta-galactosidases, beta-glucanases, carrageenases, catalases, chondroitinases, cutinases, endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, esterases, exo-mannanases, galactanases, glucoamylases, hemicellulases, hyaluronidases, keratinases, laccases, lactases, ligninases, lipases, lipolytic enzymes, lipoxygenases, mannanases, metalloproteases, oxidases, oxidoreductase, pectate lyases, pectin acetyl esterases, pectinases, pentosanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, phenoloxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phytases, polyesterase, polygalacturonases, proteases, pullulanases, reductases, rhamnogalacturonases, second cellulase, beta-glucanases, tannases, transglutaminases, xylan acetyl-esterases, xylanases, and xylosidases; (ii) one or more surfactants; (iii) one or more ions selected from calcium and zinc; (iv) one or more adjunct ingredients; (v) one or more stabilizers; (vi) from about 0.001% to about 5.0 weight % of the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein; (vii) one or more bleaching agents; or (viii) combinations thereof.

In still further embodiments, the composition comprises one or more other enzyme. In yet still further embodiments, the one or more other enzyme is selected from acyl transferases, amylases, alpha-amylases, beta-amylases, alpha-galactosidases, arabinases, arabinosidases, aryl esterases, beta-galactosidases, beta-glucanases, carrageenases, catalases, chondroitinases, cutinases, endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, esterases, exo-mannanases, galactanases, glucoamylases, hemicellulases, hyaluronidases, keratinases, laccases, lactases, ligninases, lipases, lipolytic enzymes, lipoxygenases, mannanases, metalloproteases, oxidases, oxidoreductases, pectate lyases, pectin acetyl esterases, pectinases, pentosanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, phenoloxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phytases, polygalacturonases, polyesterases, proteases, pullulanases, reductases, rhamnogalacturonases, second cellulase, beta-glucanases, tannases, transglutaminases, xylan acetyl-esterases, xylanases, and xylosidases. In further embodiments, the compositions described herein further comprise a protease, mannanase, and/or amylase.

In some embodiments, the composition further comprises one or more surfactant. In some other embodiments, the surfactant is selected from non-ionic, ampholytic, semi-polar, anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, and combinations and mixtures thereof. In yet still other embodiments, the surfactant is selected from anionic, cationic, nonionic, and zwitterionic compounds. In some embodiments, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 60%, about 1% to about 50%, or about 5% to about 40% surfactant by weight of the composition. Exemplary surfactants include, but are not limited to sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, C12-14 pareth-7, C12-15 pareth-7, sodium C12-15 pareth sulfate, C14-15 pareth-4, sodium laureth sulfate (e.g., Steol CS-370), sodium hydrogenated cocoate, C12 ethoxylates (Alfonic 1012-6, Hetoxol LA7, Hetoxol LA4), sodium alkyl benzene sulfonates (e.g., Nacconol 90G), and combinations and mixtures thereof. Anionic surfactants include but are not limited to linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS), alpha-olefinsulfonate (AOS), alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate) (AS), alcohol ethoxysulfate (AEOS or AES), secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, or soap. Nonionic surfactants include but are not limited to alcohol ethoxylate (AEO or AE), carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglycoside, alkyldimethylamine oxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide, fatty acid monoethanolamide, polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide (e.g., as described in WO92/06154), polyoxyethylene esters of fatty acids, polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters (e.g., TWEENs), polyoxyethylene alcohols, polyoxyethylene isoalcohols, polyoxyethylene ethers (e.g., TRITONs and BRIJ), polyoxyethylene esters, polyoxyethylene-p-tert-octylphenols or octylphenyl-ethylene oxide condensates (e.g., NONIDET P40), ethylene oxide condensates with fatty alcohols (e.g., LUBROL), polyoxyethylene nonylphenols, polyalkylene glycols (SYNPERONIC F108), sugar-based surfactants (e.g., glycopyranosides, thioglycopyranosides), and combinations and mixtures thereof.

In a further embodiment, the detergent compositions disclosed herein further comprise a surfactant mixture that includes, but is not limited to 5-15% anionic surfactants, <5% nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, phosphonates, soap, enzymes, perfume, butylphenyl methylptopionate, geraniol, zeolite, polycarboxylates, hexyl cinnamal, limonene, cationic surfactants, citronellol, and benzisothiazolinone.

In other embodiments, the composition further comprises one or more calcium and/or zinc ions.

In still other embodiments, the composition further comprises one or more adjunct ingredients. In yet other embodiments, the adjunct ingredient is selected from a bleach activator, bleach catalyst, enzyme stabilizing system, chelant, optical brightener, soil release polymer, dye transfer agent, dye transfer inhibiting agent, catalytic material, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids, polymeric dispersing agent, clay soil removal agent, structure elasticizing agent, dispersant, suds suppressor, dye, perfume, colorant, filler salt, hydrotrope, photoactivator, fluorescer, fabric conditioner, hydrolyzable surfactant, solvent, preservative, anti-oxidant, anti-shrinkage agent, anti-wrinkle agent, germicide, fungicide, color speckle, anti-corrosion agent, alkalinity source, solubilizing agent, carrier, processing aid, perfume, pigment, and pH control agents (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,610,642; 6,605,458; 5,705,464; 5,710,115; 5,698,504; 5,695,679; 5,686,014; and 5,646,101).

In another embodiment, the composition further comprises one or more stabilizers. In another embodiment, the stabilizer is selected from water-soluble sources of calcium and/or magnesium ions; polysaccharides; and inorganic divalent metal salts, including alkaline earth metals, such as calcium salts. In some embodiments, the enzymes employed herein are stabilized by the presence of water-soluble sources of zinc (II), calcium (II), and/or magnesium (II) ions in the finished compositions, as well as other metal ions (e.g., barium (II), scandium (II), iron (II), manganese (II), aluminum (III), tin (II), cobalt (II), copper (II), nickel (II), and oxovanadium (IV). Chlorides and sulfates also find use in some embodiments. Examples of suitable oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (e.g., dextrins) are known in the art (See, e.g., WO07/145964). In some embodiments, reversible protease inhibitors also find use, such as boron-containing compounds (e.g., borate, 4-formyl phenyl boronic acid) and/or a tripeptide aldehyde find use to further improve stability, as desired.

In yet another embodiment, the composition further comprises an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein. In some embodiments, the effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, is from about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% of cellulase by weight of the composition. In other embodiments, the effective amount of cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, is from about 0.001% to about 5.0 weight percent composition. In still other embodiments, the effective amount of cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, is from about 0.001% to about 4.5 weight percent composition. In still yet other embodiments, the effective amount of cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, is from about 0.001% to about 4.0 weight percent composition. In yet even other embodiments, the effective amount of cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, is from about 0.001% to about 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, or 3.9 weight percent composition.

In even still further embodiments, the composition further comprises one or more bleaching agents. In yet another embodiment, the bleaching agent is selected from inorganic and/or organic bleaching compound(s). Inorganic bleaches may include, but are not limited to perhydrate salts (e.g., perborate, percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfate, and persilicate salts). In some embodiments, inorganic perhydrate salts are alkali metal salts. In some embodiments, inorganic perhydrate salts are included as the crystalline solid, without additional protection, although in some other embodiments, the salt is coated. Suitable salts include, for example, those described in EP2100949.

In some embodiments, the compositions described herein further comprises one or more detergent builders or builder systems, complexing agents, polymers, foam boosters, suds suppressors, anti-corrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soil redeposition agents, dyes, bactericides, hydrotopes, optical brighteners, fabric conditioners, and perfumes.

In some embodiments, the composition described herein further comprises from about 1%, from about 3% to about 60%, or from about 5% to about 40% builder by weight of the composition. Builders may include, but are not limited to, the alkali metals, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates, alkali metal silicates, alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates, aluminosilicates, polycarboxylate compounds, ether hydroxypolycarboxylates, copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1,3,5-trihydroxy benzene-2,4,6-trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, the various alkali metals, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, as well as polycarboxylates such as mellitic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, oxydisuccinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and soluble salts thereof.

In some embodiments, the builders form water-soluble hardness ion complexes (e.g., sequestering builders), such as citrates and polyphosphates (e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium tripolyphospate hexahydrate, potassium tripolyphosphate, and mixed sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, etc.). Any suitable builder can find use in the compositions described herein, including those known in the art (See, e.g., EP 2100949).

In an even further embodiment, the pH of the composition is neutral to basic. The laundry compositions described herein are typically formulated such that, during use in aqueous conditions, the wash water will have a pH of from about 3.0 to about 11. Liquid products are typically formulated to have a neat pH from about 5.0 to about 9.0. Granular products are typically formulated to have a pH from about 8.0 to about 11.0. Techniques for controlling pH at recommended usage levels include the use of buffers, alkalis, acids, etc., and are well known to those skilled in the art.

The term “granular composition” refers to a conglomeration of discrete solid, macroscopic particles. Powders are a special class of granular material due to their small particle size, which makes them more cohesive and more easily suspended.

Concentrations of detergent compositions in typical wash solutions throughout the world varies from less than about 800 ppm of detergent composition (“low detergent concentration geographies”), for example about 667 ppm in Japan, to between about 800 ppm to about 2000 ppm (“medium detergent concentration geographies”), for example about 975 ppm in U.S. and about 1500 ppm in Brazil, to greater than about 2000 ppm (“high detergent concentration geographies”), for example about 4500 ppm to about 5000 ppm in Europe and about 6000 ppm in high suds phosphate builder geographies.

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein may be utilized at a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 60° C., or from about 20° C. to about 60° C., or from about 30° C. to about 60° C., from about 40° C. to about 60° C., from about 40° C. to about 55° C., or all ranges within 10° C. to 60° C. In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein are used in “cold water washing” at temperatures of from about 10° C. to about 40° C., or from about 20° C. to about 30° C., from about 15° C. to about 25° C., from about 15° C. to about 35° C., or all ranges within 10° C. to 40° C.

As a further example, different geographies typically have different water hardness. Water hardness is usually described in terms of the grains per gallon mixed Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺. Hardness is a measure of the amount of calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) in the water. Most water in the United States is hard, but the degree of hardness varies. Moderately hard (60-120 ppm) to hard (121-181 ppm) water has 60 to 181 parts per million (parts per million converted to grains per U.S. gallon is ppm # divided by 17.1 equals grains per gallon) of hardness minerals.

TABLE II Water Hardness Levels Water Grains per gallon Parts per million Soft less than 1.0 less than 17 Slightly hard 1.0 to 3.5 17 to 60 Moderately hard 3.5 to 7.0 60 to 120 Hard 7.0 to 10.5 120 to 180 Very hard greater than 10.5 greater than 180

European water hardness is typically greater than about 10.5 (for example about 10.5 to about 20.0) grains per gallon mixed Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ (e.g., about 15 grains per gallon mixed Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺). North American water hardness is typically greater than Japanese water hardness, but less than European water hardness. For example, North American water hardness can be between about 3 to about 10 grains, about 3 to about 8 grains or about 6 grains. Japanese water hardness is typically lower than North American water hardness, usually less than about 4, for example about 3 grains per gallon mixed Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺.

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise a protease. In some embodiments the composition comprises from about 0.00001% to about 10% protease by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the cleaning composition comprises from about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% protease by weight of the composition.

In one embodiment, the protease is a serine protease. Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbial origin. In some embodiments, the protease is a microbial protease. In other embodiments, the protease is a chemically or genetically modified mutant. In another embodiment, the protease is an alkaline microbial protease or a trypsin-like protease. Exemplary alkaline proteases include subtilisins derived from, for example, Bacillus (e.g., subtilisin, lentus, amyloliquefaciens, subtilisin Carlsberg, subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168). Exemplary additional proteases include but are not limited to those described in WO9221760, WO9523221, WO2008010925, WO09149200, WO09149144, WO09149145, WO 10056640, WO10056653, WO20100566356, WO11072099, WO201113022, WO11140364, WO 12151534, WO2015038792, WO2015089447, WO2015089441, WO2015/143360, WO2016 061438, WO2016069548, WO2016069544, WO2016069557, WO2016069563, WO2016 069569, WO2016069552, WO2016145428, WO2016183509, US Publ. No. 20080090747, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,801,039, 5,340,735, 5,500,364, 5,855,625, RE34606, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,955,340, 5,700,676, 6,312,936, 6,482,628, 8,530,219, U.S. Provisional Appl Nos. 62/331,282, 62/332,417, 62/343,618, and 62/351,649, and International Appl No. PCT/US2016/038245, as well as metalloproteases described in WO1999014341, WO1999033960, WO1999014342, WO1999 034003, WO2007044993, WO2009058303, WO2009058661, WO2014071410, WO2014 194032, WO2014194034, WO2014194054, and WO2014 194117. Exemplary proteases also include, but are not limited to trypsin (e.g., of porcine or bovine origin) and the Fusarium protease described in WO8906270.

Exemplary commercial proteases include, but are not limited to MAXATASE®, MAXACAL™, MAXAPEM™, OPTICLEAN®, OPTIMASE®, PROPERASE®, PURAFECT®, PURAFECT® OXP, PURAMAX™, EXCELLASE™, PREFERENZ™ proteases (e.g. P100, P110, P280), EFFECTENZ™ proteases (e.g. P1000, P1050, P2000), EXCELLENZ™ proteases (e.g. P1000), ULTIMASE®, and PURAFAST™ (DuPont); ALCALASE®, ALCALASE® ULTRA, BLAZE®, BLAZE® EVITY®, BLAZE® EVITY® 16L, CORONASE®, SAVINASE®, SAVINASE® ULTRA, SAVINASE® EVITY®, SAVINASE® EVERTS®, PRIMASE®, DURAZYM™, POLARZYME®, OVOZYME®, KANNASE®, LIQUANASE®, LIQUANASE EVERTS®, NEUTRASE®, PROGRESS UNO®, RELASE® and ESPERASE® (Novozymes); BLAP™ and BLAP™ variants (Henkel); LAVERGY™ PRO 104 L (BASF), and KAP (B. alkalophilus subtilisin (Kao)).

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise a suitable amylase. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% amylase by weight of the composition. Any amylase (e.g., alpha and/or beta) suitable for use in alkaline solutions may be useful to include in such composition. An exemplary amylase can be a chemically or genetically modified mutant. Exemplary amylases include, but are not limited amylases described in GB1296839, WO91 00353, WO9402597, WO94183314, WO9510603, WO9526397, WO9535382, WO9605295, WO9623873, WO9623874, WO9630481, WO9710342, WO9741213, WO9743424, WO98 13481, WO9826078, WO9902702, WO9909183, WO9919467, WO9923211, WO9929876, WO9942567, WO9943793, WO9943794, WO9946399, WO0029560, WO0060058, WO00 60059, WO0060060, WO0114532, WO0134784, WO0164852, WO0166712, WO0188107, WO0196537, WO02092797, WO0210355, WO0231124, WO2004055178, WO2004113551, WO2005001064, WO2005003311, WO2005018336, WO 2005019443, WO2005066338, WO 2006002643, WO2006012899, WO2006012902, WO2006 031554, WO2006063594, WO2006 066594, WO2006066596, WO2006136161, WO2008 000825, WO2008088493, WO2008 092919, WO2008101894, WO2008112459, WO2009 061380, WO2009061381, WO2009 100102, WO2009140504, WO2009149419, WO2010 059413, WO2010088447, WO2010 091221, WO2010104675, WO2010 115021, WO10115028, WO2010117511, WO2011076123, WO2011076897, WO2011080352, WO2011080353, WO2011080354, WO2011082425, WO 2011082429, WO2011087836, WO2011098531, WO2013063460, WO2013184577, WO2014 099523, WO2014164777, and WO2015077126. Exemplary commercial amylases include, but are not limited to AMPLIFY®, AMPLIFY PRIME®, BAN™, DURAMYL®, TERMAMYL®, TERMAMYL® ULTRA, FUNGAMYL®, STAINZYME®, STAINZYME PLUS®, STAINZYME ULTRA®, and STAINZYME EVITY® (Novozymes); EFFECTENZ™ S 1000, POWERASE™, PREFERENZ™ S 100, PREFERENZ™ S 110, EXCELLENZ™ S 2000, RAPIDASE® and MAXAMYL® P (DuPont).

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise a suitable pectin degrading enzyme. As used herein, “pectin degrading enzyme(s)” encompass arabinanase (EC 3.2.1.99), galactanases (EC 3.2.1.89), polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) exo-polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.67), exo-poly-alpha-galacturonidase (EC 3.2.1.82), pectin lyase (EC 4.2.2.10), pectin esterase (EC 3.2.1.11), pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2), exo-polygalacturonate lyase (EC 4.2.2.9) and hemicellulases such as endo-1,3-β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.32), xylan-1,4-β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) and α-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55). Pectin degrading enzymes are natural mixtures of the above mentioned enzymatic activities. Pectin enzymes therefore include the pectin methylesterases which hydrolyses the pectin methyl ester linkages, polygalacturonases which cleave the glycosidic bonds between galacturonic acid molecules, and the pectin transeliminases or lyases which act on the pectic acids to bring about non-hydrolytic cleavage of α-1,4 glycosidic linkages to form unsaturated derivatives of galacturonic acid.

Suitable pectin degrading enzymes include those of plant, fungal, or microbial origin. In some embodiments, chemically or genetically modified mutants are included. In some embodiments, the pectin degrading enzymes are alkaline pectin degrading enzymes, i.e., enzymes having an enzymatic activity of at least 10%, at least 25%, or at least 40% of their maximum activity at a pH of from about 7.0 to about 12. In certain other embodiments, the pectin degrading enzymes are enzymes having their maximum activity at a pH of from about 7.0 to about 12. Alkaline pectin degrading enzymes are produced by alkalophilic microorganisms e.g., bacterial, fungal, and yeast microorganisms such as Bacillus species. In some embodiments, the microorganisms are B. firmus, B. circulans, and B. subtilis as described in JP 56131376 and JP 56068393. Alkaline pectin decomposing enzymes may include but are not limited to galacturn-1,4-α-galacturonase (EC 3.2.1.67), poly-galacturonase activities (EC 3.2.1.15, pectin esterase (EC 3.1.1.11), pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2) and their iso enzymes. Alkaline pectin decomposing enzymes can be produced by the Erwinia species. In some embodiments, the alkaline pectin decomposing enzymes are produced by E. chrysanthemi, E. carotovora, E. amylovora, E. herbicola, and E. dissolvens as described in JP 59066588, JP 63042988, and in Worlds. Microbiol. Microbiotechnol. (8, 2, 115-120) 1992. In certain other embodiments, the alkaline pectin enzymes are produced by Bacillus species as disclosed in JP 73006557 and Agr. Biol. Chem. (1972), 36 (2) 285-93. In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% of pectin degrading enzyme by weight of the composition.

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise a suitable mannanase enzyme. In one embodiment, the composition comprises from about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% mannanase by weight composition. An exemplary mannanase can be a chemically or genetically modified mutant. Exemplary mannanases include, but are not limited to, those of bacterial or fungal origin, such as, for example, as is described in WO 2016/007929; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,566,114; 6,602,842; and 6,440,991; and International Patent Appl Nos: PCT/US2016/060850 and PCT/US2016/060844 filed Nov. 7, 2016. Exemplary commercial mannanases include, but are not limited to MANNAWAY® (Novozymes) and EFFECTENZ™ M 1000, PREFERENZ® M 100, MANNASTAR®, and PURABRITE™ (DuPont).

In some further embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise a suitable second cellulase. Suitable second cellulases include, but are not limited to those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included in some embodiments. Suitable second cellulases include, but are not limited to H. insolens cellulases (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307). Especially suitable cellulases are the cellulases having color care benefits (See, e.g., EP0495257). Commercially available second cellulases include, but are not limited to ENDOLASE®, CELLUCLEAN®, CELLUZYME®, CAREZYME®, RENOZYME®, and CAREZYME® PREMIUM(Novozymes A/S, Denmark), PURADEX®, (DuPont), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation). In some embodiments, cellulases are incorporated as portions or fragments of mature wild-type or variant cellulases, wherein a portion of the N-terminus is deleted (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,276). In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise from about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% of cellulase by weight of the composition.

In still further embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise a suitable lipase. In some embodiments, the composition comprises from about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, or about 0.005% to about 0.5% lipase by weight composition. An exemplary lipase can be a chemically or genetically modified mutant. Exemplary lipases include, but are not limited to, e.g., bacterial or fungal origin, such as, e.g., H. lanuginosa lipase (See, e.g., EP258068, and EP305216), R. miehei lipase (See, e.g., EP 238 023), Candida lipase, such as C. antarctica lipase (e.g., C. antarctica lipase A or B; see, e.g., EP214761), Pseudomonas lipases such as P. alcaligenes lipase and P. pseudoalcaligenes lipase (See, e.g., EP218272), P. cepacia lipase (See, e.g., EP331376), P. stutzeri lipase (See, e.g., GB 1,372,034), P. fluorescens lipase, Bacillus lipase (e.g., B. subtilis lipase [Dartois et al., (1993) Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1131:253-260]; B. stearothermophilus lipase [See, e.g., JP 64/744992]; and B. pumilus lipase [See, e.g., WO91/16422]). Exemplary cloned lipases include, but are not limited to P. camembertii lipase (See, Yamaguchi et al., [1991] Gene 103:61-67), G. candidum lipase (See, Schimada et al., [1989] J. Biochem. 106:383-388), and various Rhizopus lipases such as R. delemar lipase (See, Hass et al., [1991] Gene 109:117-113), R. niveus lipase (Kugimiya et al., [1992] Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 56:716-719), and R. oryzae lipase. Other types of suitable lipolytic enzymes include cutinases such as, for example, cutinase derived from P. mendocina (See, WO88/09367) and from F. solani pisi (See, WO90/09446). Exemplary commercial lipases include, but are not limited to M1 LIPASE™, LUMA FAST™, and LIPOMAX™ (DuPont); LIPEX®, LIPOCLEAN®, LIPOLASE® and LIPOLASE® ULTRA (Novozymes); and LIPASE P™ (Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd).

In some embodiments, detergent compositions described herein further comprise peroxidases in combination with hydrogen peroxide or a source thereof (e.g., a percarbonate, perborate or persulfate). In some alternative embodiments, oxidases are used in combination with oxygen. Both types of enzymes are used for “solution bleaching” (i.e., to prevent transfer of a textile dye from a dyed fabric to another fabric when the fabrics are washed together in a wash liquor), preferably together with an enhancing agent (See, e.g., WO94/12621 and WO95/01426). Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include, but are not limited to those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the detergent compositions further comprise from about 0.00001% to about 10%, about 0.0001% to about 10%, about 0.001% to about 5%, about 0.001% to about 2%, about 0.005% to about 0.5% of peroxidase and/or oxidase by weight of composition.

In some embodiments, detergent compositions described herein further comprise additional enzymes, including but not limited to perhydrolases (See, e.g., WO 05/056782).

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise at least one chelating agent. Suitable chelating agents may include, but are not limited to copper, iron, and/or manganese chelating agents, and mixtures thereof. In embodiments in which at least one chelating agent is used, the detergent compositions comprise from about 0.1% to about 15% or even from about 3.0% to about 10% chelating agent by weight of composition.

In some still further embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise at least one deposition aid. Suitable deposition aids include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polycarboxylate, soil release polymers such as polytelephthalic acid, clays such as kaolinite, montmorillonite, atapulgite, illite, bentonite, halloysite, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise at least one anti-redeposition agent. In some embodiments, the anti-redeposition agent is a non-ionic surfactant, such as, for example, described in EP2100949.

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones, and polyvinylimidazoles, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein comprise from about 0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5%, or even from about 0.1% to about 3% dye transfer inhibiting agent by weight of composition.

In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise one or more silicates. In some such embodiments, sodium silicates (e.g., sodium disilicate, sodium metasilicate, and crystalline phyllosilicates) find use. In some embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein comprise from about 1% to about 20% or from about 5% to about 15% silicate by weight of the composition.

In yet further embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise one or more dispersant. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include, but are not limited to the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms.

In yet further embodiments, the detergent compositions described herein further comprise one or more bleach activator and/or bleach catalyst. Bleach activators are typically organic peracid precursors that enhance the bleaching action in the course of cleaning at temperatures of 60° C. and below. Bleach activators suitable for use herein include compounds which, under perhydrolysis conditions, give aliphatic peroxycarboxylic acids having preferably from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, in particular from about 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, and/or optionally substituted perbenzoic acid. Suitable bleach activators include, for example, those described in EP2100949. Bleach catalysts typically include, for example, manganese triazacyclononane and related complexes, and cobalt, copper, manganese, and iron complexes, as well as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,246,612; 5,227,084; 4,810,410; and WO99/06521 and EP2100949.

In some embodiments, fabric is exposed to a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein prior to being worn such that removal of soil subsequently adhered to the fabric is improved in the first and/or subsequent two, three, or more wash cycles over soiled fabric that is not exposed to the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein prior to being worn. In other embodiments, fabric is exposed to the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein after being worn such that the removal of soil subsequently adhered to the fabric is improved in the first and/or subsequent two, three, or more wash cycles over soiled fabric that is not subsequently exposed to the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein. In still further embodiments, cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein finds use in a detergent composition, a textile finishing process, or a paper and pulp process.

Yet another embodiment is directed to enhancing the feel and/or appearance and/or providing color enhancement and/or a stone washed appearance to a cellulose containing textile material (such as, for example, cotton, flax, ramie, jute, viscose, modified viscose fibers, lyocell and cupro) comprising treating the material with an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein or a composition comprising an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein. A still further embodiment is directed to a method for reducing color redeposition during the stone washing of colored fabrics comprising contacting the fabric with an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein or a composition comprising an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein under conditions sufficient to impart a stone-washed appearance to the fabric. In still another embodiment, a cellulose containing textile material treated with an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein or a composition comprising an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein retains substantially all of the material's tensile strength as compared to an untreated cellulose containing textile material. In yet still another embodiment, a cellulose containing textile material treated with an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein or a composition comprising an effective amount of a cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, described herein retains 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, and 100% of the material's tensile strength as compared to an untreated cellulose containing textile material.

Other aspects and embodiments of the present compositions and methods will be apparent from the foregoing description and following examples. Various alternative embodiments beyond those described herein can be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims, and not the specific embodiments described herein, define the scope of the invention and as such methods and structures within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are covered thereby.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided to demonstrate and/or illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure or any subsequently claimed invention.

Example 1 Assays

The following assays are standard assays used in the examples described below. Occasionally specific protocols called for deviations from these standard assays. In those cases, deviations from these standard assay protocols below are identified in the examples.

Performance Index

The performance index (PI) of an enzyme compares the performance of the variant (measured value) with a parent or reference polypeptide (theoretical or measured value) at the same protein concentration. Theoretical concentrations for the parent or reference polypeptide can be calculated using the parameters extracted from a Langmuir fit of a standard curve of the parent enzyme. A performance index (PI) that is greater than 1 (PI>1) indicates improved performance by a variant as compared to the parent or reference polypeptide, while a PI of 1 (PI=1) identifies a variant that performs the same as the parent or reference polypeptide, and a PI that is less than 1 (PI<1) identifies a variant that does not perform as well as the parent or reference polypeptide. For example, the STCE1 wild-type (STCE1-WT) mature protein set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 is the parent.

Protein Determination Assay (A280)

Absorbance at 280 nm was measured for purified enzyme samples in microtiter plates (Costar 3635, Sigma/Aldrich, USA) using a SpectraMax plate reader (Molecular Devices, USA). The responses of the STCE1-WT standards (standard protein ranges 50 ppm to 1000 ppm) were used to plot a standard curve. Absorbance values of variant samples were then interpolated from those graphs.

Protein Determination Assay (HPLC)

For high resolution concentration determinations, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was performed on protein samples. An Agilent 1290 U (HPLC) equipped with a Zorbax C-3 column was used for protein quantitation. Samples were eluted from the column using a gradient of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in water and 0.07% TFA in acetonitrile. Absorbance was measured at 220 nm, and peaks were integrated using ChemStation software (Agilent Technologies, USA). The protein concentrations of the samples were calculated based on a standard curve of the purified STCE1-WT mature protein (SEQ ID NO:1).

Cellulase Activity Assay Using PAHBAH Reagent

The activity of cellulase enzymes was tested on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) substrate using the 4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PAHBAH) reagent. The enzymatic activity was based on the hydrolysis of CMC substrate into reducing sugars followed by the detection of the new reducing ends by the PAHBAH reagent. The reagent PAHBAH stock solution (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) was prepared as 5% solution in 0.5 N hydrochloric acid (HCL). The PAHBAH reagent was further diluted in 0.5 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in 1:4 ratios to make up a final 1% solution. 1% CMC substrate was made in 50 mM HEPES buffer solution, pH 8.2. The enzyme samples (6 μL), adjusted to pH 8.2 were added to a microtiter plates (MTP) containing 40 μl of the 1% CMC solution and incubated at 40° C. in iEMS™ Microplate Incubator/Shaker HT (ThermoFisher Scientific Inc, USA) for 15 min; then 8 μl of enzyme-substrate mix was transferred to a new MTP containing 20 μl of 1% PAHBAH per well and incubated at 95° C. in a thermocycler machine (Eppendorf™ Mastercycler™ pro PCR system, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) for 5 min. Finally, 20 μl of each reaction solution was transferred to a fresh MTP and the absorbance was measured at 410 nm using a SpectraMax plate reader.

Cellulase Stability Assays

Cellulase enzyme samples were tested under three stability conditions as set forth on Table 1: thermostability, stability in the presence of protease, and stability in the presence of detergent and protease. The stressed and unstressed cellulase activities were measured using the cellulase activity assay described above and the ratio of stressed over unstressed was used to determine residual enzyme activity. The protease used in the assays was commercially available BPN′-Y217L subtilisin, which is forth as SEQ ID NO:2. Prior to using commercially available detergent in the stability assays, the enzymes contained in the detergent were inactivated by heating the detergent in a water bath set to 100° C. for 2 hrs.

TABLE 1 Conditions for cellulase stability assays Stress temperature (° C.) and Measurement Condition incubation time Thermostability 50 mM HEPES buffer pH 8.2 80° C. for 10 min Stability in the 1500 ppm BPN′-Y217L 65° C. for 15 min presence of Protease protease in 50 mM HEPES buffer pH 8.2 Stability in the 1% OMO Klein & Krachtig* 37° C. for 24 hr presence of plus 1000 ppm BPN′-Y217L detergent and protease in 50 mM HEPES protease buffer pH 8.2 *Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent commercially sold by Unilever

For the unstressed test conditions, the test samples were not incubated prior to assaying for activity.

For the stressed test conditions, the test samples were prepared in 96 well PCR/MTP plates, sealed, and incubated at the elevated temperatures and under the conditions described in Table 1 using: an Eppendorf™ 384 MasterCycler™ Pro Thermocycler to measure thermostability, and stability in the presence of protease, or an iEMS incubator to measure stability in the presence of detergent and protease. After the various incubation periods, the samples were assayed for cellulase activity.

The residual activity of the enzyme sample tested in each assay was calculated as the mean of three replicates with blank subtracted. The relative residual activity of each enzyme sample was calculated as the ratio between residual activity and unstressed activity. The relative residual activity percentage was calculated by multiplying the relative residual activity number by 100. The PI of each STCE1-WT variant was calculated as the ratio between relative residual activity for the variant and relative residual activity for the STCE1-WT cellulase.

Example 2 Expression of Various GH45 Cellulases and Variants Thereof

The gene encoding the STCE1-WT cellulase (previously described as a family 45 glycoside hydrolase in the publication, Koga, J., Y. Baba, A. Shimonaka, T. Nishimura, S. Hanamura and T. Kono (2008), “Purification and characterization of a new family 45 endoglucanase, STCE1, from Staphylotrichum coccosporum and its overproduction in Humicola insolens.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74(13): 4210-4217) was selected as a template for generating the parent cellulase and variants thereof).

The stce1 gene encoding the wildtype (WT) form of the protein (also referred to herein as the parent), contained an intron within the coding DNA. The intron was removed by using (i) a forward primer with the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, (ii) a reverse primer with the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, and (iii) the QuikChange® II XL Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Stratagene, Agilent Technologies, USA). The resulting product was sub-cloned into the expression vector pTTT-pyr2 utilizing standard reagents. The pTTTpyr2 vector is similar to the pTTTpyrG vector described previously, for example, in WO2011153449A1 except that the A. nidulans pyrG gene is replaced with the H. jecorina pyr2 gene. The pTTT-pyr2 expression vector contained the T. reesei cbhI-derived promoter (cbhI) and cbhI terminator regions allowing for a strong inducible expression of the gene of interest, the A. nidulans amdS and pyr2 selective markers conferring growth of transformants on acetamide as a sole nitrogen source, and the T. reesei telomere regions allowing for non-chromosomal plasmid maintenance in a fungal cell. A map of the pTTT-pyr2 based vector containing the stce1-WT cellulase gene (set forth as SEQ ID NO:5), pTTT-pyr2-stce1 is shown in FIG. 1.

Using molecular biology techniques known in the art, multiple amino acid mutations (substitutions, insertions, and/or deletions) were introduced into the stce1 gene coding region. Additional expression vectors based on the pTTT-pyr2-stce1 platform where generated to encode these STCE-1 variants. Protoplasts of a suitable Trichoderma reesei host strains were transformed by the PEG based protocol described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,679,792 with the plasmid encoding each of the desired genes. After growth of transformants, spores from each well were pooled and re-patched using minimal medium containing acetamide as a sole nitrogen source. Upon sporulation, spores were harvested and used for inoculation in Aachen medium. Cultures were incubated for 6 days at 28° C., 80% humidity and 50 mm shaking throw in a Multitron shaker incubator (Infors, Switzerland). The culture broth was filtered to collect the clarified supernatant for the samples of interest, which were stored at −20° C. before assays were performed.

The nucleotide sequence of the stce1-WT gene in the pTTT-pyr2-STCE1 vector is set forth as SEQ ID NO:5 (951 base pairs). The amino acid sequence of the translation product of the stce1-WT gene is set forth as SEQ ID NO:6 (316 amino acids), wherein the N-terminal 21 amino acids constitute the signal peptide. The amino acid sequence of the mature form of STCE1-WT protein is set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 (295 amino acids), wherein the C-terminal 37 amino constitute the carbohydrate binding module (CBM).

The mutations (insertions, substitutions, and/or deletions) of the STCE1-WT variant cellulases tested herein are listed in Table 2 with the associated amino acid sequence of each variant set forth in SEQ ID NOs:7-69, wherein the amino acid positions of each variant are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

TABLE 2 Amino Acid Mutations (insertions, substitutions, Amino SEQ ID Variant deletions) of the STCE1-WT Cellulase Variants acid length NO STCE1-5217 K4V-Q36T-S77M-T102K-Q154E-N178H-S225K and 283 7 deletions: S232, T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243 STCE1-5504 K4V-K44V-S77K-E90A-S135T-A142P-Q154E-L192V- 283 8 V208H-S221L-A247T and deletions: S232, T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243 STCE1-5267 K4V-N80S-G87A-Q154E-A161P-G204S-S221L and 284 9 deletions: T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243 STCE1-5349 S32Y-T102K-A142P-G204S-V208H-A247T and 284 10 deletions: T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243 STCE1-5434 K4V-K44V-S77K-N80S-T102K-G112T-S135T- 284 11 A142P-L192V and deletions: T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243 STCE1-5443 S77M-A142P-K163V-V208H-A247T and deletions: 284 12 T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243 STCE1-5286 S77M-G87A-A99H-G112T-A142P-S232T-T236A and 294 13 deletion: T233 STCE1-5324 S23L-A142P-D202E-S232T and deletion: T233 294 14 STCE1-5207 Q36T-S77K-G87A-A142P-S153D-A161P-G204S- 295 15 S221L-S237D STCE-5219 K4V-F29W-S77K-T102K-P136E-S153D-A161P-T210V 295 16 STCE1-5225 A99Y-G112T-S135T-S153D-K227R 295 17 STCE1-5238 S23L-S32Y-G112T-A142P-A161P-G204S-S217G- 295 18 K227R-S237D STCE-5248 F29W-Q36T-K44V-T116V-S135T-Q154E-A161P- 295 19 S217G-S221L-S225K-T238D STCE1-5250 K4V-Q36T-S77K-N80S-A142P-L192V-G204S- 295 20 T210V-S221L STCE1-5258 F29W-G87A-E90A-A99Y-A142P-S153D-K227R- 295 21 S237D STCE1-5276 K4V-S77M-Q154E-A161P-L192V-V208H-S217G- 295 22 T233A-S237D STCE1-5279 E90A-G112T-S135T-A161P-G204S 295 23 STCE1-5281 S51T-S77M-P136E-K163V-G204S-T210V-K227R 295 24 STCE1-5308 K4V-F29W-S51T-T116V-S135T-S221L-S225K 295 25 STCE1-5316 S77M-T102K-T116V-S135T-S153D-A161P-T238D 295 26 STCE1-5322 K4V-S23L-S32Y-N80S-T102K-A142P-A161P-S237D 295 27 STCE1-5334 K44V-G87A-Q154E-A161P 295 28 STCE1-5340 S32Y-A142P-Q154E-K163V-S217G-K227R-T233A 295 29 STCE1-5354 N34D-S51T-G87A-T102K-T116V-P136E-Q154E- 295 30 A161P-L192V-T233A-T238D STCE1-5379 K4V-S77K-E90A-A142P-S157D-S217G-T233A- 295 31 T238D and deletion: G214 STCE1-5385 K4V-Q36T-S51T-N80S-S135T-S157D-T233A 295 32 STCE1-5398 Q36T-S77K-G87A-A142P-S153D-A161P-G204S- 295 33 S221L-S237D and deletion: D177 STCE1-5431 K4V-S51T-V98G-S135T-Q154E-T233A 295 34 STCE1-5433 T102K-A142P-Q154E-G204S-K227R 295 35 STCE1-5448 S51T-G87A-A99Y-S135T-N205D-T238D 295 36 STCE1-5450 G87A-A142P-A161P-L192V-G204S-T241A 295 37 STCE1-5452 K4V-S77K-E90A-A142P-S157D-S217G-T233A-T238D 295 38 STCE-5458 K4V-P136E-S153D-A161P-T210V-K227R 295 39 STCE1-5491 S51T-N80S-A142P-L192V-V208H 295 40 STCE1-5500 K4V-S23L-Q36T-S77M-G112T-S157D-A161P-L192V- 295 41 S221L STCE1-5539 Q36T-V98Y-A142P-A161E-S225K 295 42 STCE1-5542 Q36T-P136E-A142P-S225K-S249P 295 43 STCE1-5543 A99Y-P136E-A142P-A161E-S221L 295 44 STCE1-5546 S32D-Q36T-S221L-S225K 295 45 STCE1-5547 S32D-A99Y-A142P-A161E-S249P 295 46 STCE1-5550 K44V-A142P-A161P-K163V 295 47 STCE1-5552 S32D-Q36T-G112S-A142P 295 48 STCE1-5557 S32D-Q36T-S77M-S135T-A142P-A161P 295 49 STCE1-5560 F29W-S77M-A99E-A142P 295 50 STCE1-5561 G112S-P136K-A142E 295 51 STCE1-5562 S135T-A142P-K163V 295 52 STCE1-5563 K4V-G112S-S135T-A142P-A161P 295 53 STCE1-5567 S32D-Q36T-A99E-P136K-A142P 295 54 STCE1-5575 G112S-P136K-A142P-S217M-S221M-T241L-G258K 295 55 STCE1-5576 K4V-S77K-G112S-A142P-A194S-S249G-G258K 295 56 STCE1-5609 P97S-G112V-P136S-A142P-A161E-K163V-P212S- 295 57 S222A STCE1-5611 P97S-G112V-P136S-S153D-A161E-S225K-T241R 295 58 STCE1-5612 P97S-G112V-P136S-S153D-S225K-T241R 295 59 STCE1-5614 S32D-A142E-V208K-S225K-T241R 295 60 STCE1-5616 S32D-A142E 295 61 STCE1-5684 S51T-A99Y-F119L-P136E-Q154E-D156G-S217G 295 62 STCE1-5343 K44V-A142P-A161P-K163V-K227R-T236A 295 63 STCE1-5401 G112T-S135T-Q154E-T233S-S237D and insertion 295 64 after position 233: TTSTST STCE1-5355 Q36T-S51T-V98G-T116V-A142P-A161P-T233S and 301 65 insertion after position 233: TASTKATSTT STCE1-5287 K4V-F29W-S51T-D65G-S77M-T116V-S153D- 305 66 K163V-G204S-F206S-T210V-S221L and insertion after position 233: STTSTKATSTT STCE1-5357 S77M-S135T-Q154E-K163V-K227R-S237D and 306 67 insertion after position 233: STTSDKATSTT STCE1-5460 K4V-S32G-Q36T-S77M-G87A-T116V-A142P-A161P 306 68 and insertion after position 233: STTDTKATSTT STCE1-5683 S77M-G87A-P136E-S157D-S221L-T236A-T238D- 306 69 K286E and insertion after position 233: STTSTKATSTT

The STCE1-WT and variant cellulase proteins were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, adding 3M (NH₄)₂SO₄ to clarified culture broth in 1:1 dilution and using a Relisorb OC 400 resin (Resindon, Italy) in 20 mM KH₂PO₄, pH 6.0. The resin was washed with 20 mM KH₂PO₄ pH 6.0+0.5M (NH₄)₂SO₄ buffer and the proteins of interest were eluted in 20 mM KH₂PO₄ pH 6.0 buffer and stored at 4° C. until assayed.

Example 3 Stability of STCE1 Cellulase Variants

The STCE1-WT and the STCE1 variant cellulases listed on Table 1 were assayed for activity on CMC substrate at pH 8.2 as described in Example 1. The cellulase variants with at least 50% relative activity versus STCE1-WT cellulase were further studied to measure stability under the test conditions described in Example 1, including: thermostability, stability in the presence of a protease, and stability in the presence of protease and detergent. The relative stability performance results are shown in Table 2, reported as PI of STCE1 cellulase variants versus STCE1-WT.

TABLE 2 PI of STCE1 Cellulase Variants With Improved Stability Stability Performance Detergent (OMO) Protein ID and Protease Protease Thermal STCE1-WT 1.0 1.0 1.0 STCE1-5207 7.1 9.3 1.5 STCE1-5217 2.4 1.5 1.5 STCE1-5219 3.7 5.5 1.3 STCE1-5225 2.3 0.6 1.3 STCE1-5238 6.9 5.8 1.3 STCE1-5248 5.8 3.1 1.4 STCE1-5250 6.8 4.6 1.3 STCE1-5258 6.5 5.7 1.3 STCE1-5267 3.2 2.5 1.5 STCE1-5276 3.2 0.8 1.5 STCE1-5279 4.3 1.3 1.5 STCE1-5281 2.2 0.5 1.4 STCE1-5286 6.9 6.9 1.4 STCE1-5287 2.4 1.4 1.2 STCE1-5308 1.8 0.7 1.3 STCE1-5316 5.2 4.2 1.4 STCE1-5322 7.0 7.0 1.3 STCE1-5324 6.9 1.5 1.3 STCE1-5334 2.6 0.9 1.4 STCE1-5340 6.3 1.2 1.2 STCE1-5343 6.8 1.4 1.4 STCE1-5349 6.5 1.1 1.4 STCE1-5354 5.7 6.7 1.5 STCE1-5355 6.8 0.5 1.3 STCE1-5357 6.2 2.0 1.4 STCE1-5379 4.7 3.1 1.4 STCE1-5385 2.1 0.8 1.4 STCE1-5398 4.6 7.3 1.4 STCE1-5401 3.3 1.1 1.4 STCE1-5431 3.0 0.6 1.4 STCE1-5433 4.2 2.8 1.5 STCE1-5434 4.6 6.6 1.4 STCE1-5443 4.8 0.6 1.2 STCE1-5448 1.8 0.6 1.5 STCE1-5450 4.5 4.1 1.5 STCE1-5452 4.7 4.2 1.4 STCE1-5458 3.3 1.5 1.4 STCE1-5460 4.4 7.4 1.5 STCE1-5491 4.6 1.8 1.3 STCE1-5500 1.8 0.9 1.6 STCE1-5504 4.9 2.7 1.4 STCE1-5539 4.5 1.3 1.4 STCE1-5542 3.5 3.0 1.3 STCE1-5543 4.2 0.9 1.2 STCE1-5546 4.9 5.1 1.3 STCE1-5547 4.9 3.4 1.2 STCE1-5550 4.7 4.7 1.4 STCE1-5552 5.0 6.6 1.3 STCE1-5557 4.1 7.4 1.5 STCE1-5560 4.6 2.6 1.4 STCE1-5561 2.4 1.8 1.3 STCE1-5562 4.6 3.3 1.3 STCE1-5563 4.8 7.0 1.4 STCE1-5567 4.0 6.8 1.3 STCE1-5575 3.7 6.1 1.1 STCE1-5576 5.3 5.2 1.3 STCE1-5609 4.2 0.6 1.3 STCE1-5611 3.6 0.8 1.4 STCE1-5612 2.5 0.9 1.4 STCE1-5614 3.9 1.9 1.3 STCE1-5616 3.7 1.9 1.3 STCE1-5683 6.6 7.2 1.4 STCE1-5684 3.0 2.4 1.4

The following substitutions: 142P, 161P, 4V, 36T, 87A, 154E, 135T, 204S, 77K, 102K, 77M, 153D, 221L, 32D, 136E, 192V, 227R, 29W, 90A, 112T, 116V, 217G, 225K, 51T, 80S, 112S, 163V, 210V were observed with high frequency among the STCE1 cellulase variants with improved stability (Table 2). These results suggest a stability benefit was introduced by these amino acid substitutions. Furthermore, the following sets of substitutions were observed with high frequency: 142P+161P, 4V+142P, 36T+142P, 4V+77K, 77K+142P, 87A+142P, 87A+161P, 142P+204S, 4V+161P, 161P+204S, 102K+161P, 142P+192V, 142P+227R, 153D+161P, 4V+102K, 4V+210V, 29W+153D, 32D+142P, 36T+161P, 36T+221L, 36T+225K, 87A+204S, 90A+142P, 116V+161P, 135T+142P, 135T+154E, 135T+161P, 136E+161P, 204S+221L, 4V+80S, 4V+153D, 4V+221L, 32D+36T, 32Y+142P, 77M+142P, 77K+153D, 77K+161P, 77K+221L, 80S+142P, 87A+153D, 87A+192V, 87A+221L, 102K+136E, 102K+142P, 102K+154E, 112T+135T, 112S+142P, 142P+153D, 142P+217G, 142P+221L, 153D+210V, 154E+161P, 161P+192V, and 161P+221L.

Example 4 Alignment of GH45 Cellulases with STCE1-Variants

An alignment of the amino acid sequences of the following cellulases: STCE1-WT (SEQ ID NO:1), C_thermophilum (NCBI Accession NO: AGY80101.1, residues 1-293) (SEQ ID NO:70), H_insolens (NCBI Accession No: CAA01574.1, residues 22-305) (SEQ ID NO:71), H_grisea (NCBI Accession No: BAA74956.1, residues 22-305) (SEQ ID NO:72), T_terrestris (NCBI Accession No: XP_003651003.1, residues 22-299) (SEQ ID NO:73), A_thermophilum (accession No: ACE10216; SEQ ID NO:6 in U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,487, residues 22-315)(SEQ ID NO:74), N_crassa (NCBI Accession No: XP_957107, residues 22-293) (SEQ ID NO:75), and the cellulase variants listed on Table 1 (SEQ ID NOs:7-68) was generated. The sequences were aligned with default parameters using the MUSCLE program from Geneious software (Biomatters Ltd.) (Robert C. Edgar. MUSCLE: multiple sequence alignment with high accuracy and high throughput Nucl. Acids Res. (2004) 32 (5): 1792-1797). Based on previous structure function analysis of the GH45 cellulases, such as the crystal structure of H. insolens cellulase (pdb ID 3ENG), the regions comprising the catalytic core, linker and C-terminal were defined with the catalytic core region set forth in FIGS. 2A-2H, the linker region set forth in FIGS. 3A-3B, and the C-terminal region set forth in FIGS. 4A-4B.

The catalytic core contains residues that correspond to positions 1-211 of the mature STCE1-WT cellulase set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the amino acid positions are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The alignment of the residues within this catalytic core region is shown in FIGS. 2A-2H.

Residues P212, S213, G258 and C259 are fully conserved across all the studied cellulases, and anchor a highly variable region of varying length across all the GH45 cellulase sequences examined. Therefore, the linker region contains residues that are present between the residues corresponding to P212 and G258 of the mature STCE1-WT cellulase set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the amino acid positions are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The alignment of the residues within this linker region is shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. For the proteins evaluated in this study, the length of the linker present between the residues corresponding to positions 212 and 258 of the mature STCE1-WT cellulase set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 (wherein the amino acid positions are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1) ranges from 19 to 55 amino acids, where the STCE1-WT linker contains 44 residues and the mean length of the linker across the studied cellulases is 40.

The C-terminal region contains the residues that are present between the residues corresponding to positions 259 and 295 of the mature STCE1-WT cellulase set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the amino acid positions are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The alignment of the residues within this C-terminal region is shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. 

We claim:
 1. A cellulase variant, or an active fragment thereof, comprising an amino acid sequence comprising two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from: (i) 4, 23, 29, 32, 34, 36, 44, 51, 65, 77, 80, 87, 90, 97, 98, 99, 102, 112, 116, 119, 135, 136, 142, 153, 154, 156, 157, 161, 163, 178, 192, 194, 202, 204, 205, 206, 208, 210, 212, 217, 221, 222, 225, 227, 232, 233, 236, 237, 238, 241, 247, 249, and 258; (ii) 4, 29, 32, 36, 51, 77, 80, 87, 90, 102, 112, 116, 135, 136, 142, 153, 154, 161, 163, 192, 204, 210, 217, 221, 225, and 227; (iii) 4V, 23L, 29W, 32D/G/Y, 34D, 36T, 44V, 51T, 65G, 77K/M, 80S, 87A, 90A, 97S, 98G/Y, 99E/H/Y, 102K, 112S/T/V, 116V, 119L, 135T, 136E/K/S, 142E/P, 153D, 154E, 156G, 157D, 161E/P, 163V, 178H, 192V, 194S, 202E, 204S, 205D, 206S, 208H/K, 210V, 212S, 217G/M, 221L/M, 222A, 225K, 227R, 232T, 233A/S, 236A, 237D, 238D, 241A/L/R, 247T, 249G/P, and 258K; (iv) 4V, 29W, 32D, 36T, 51T, 77K/M, 80S, 87A, 90A, 102K, 112S/T, 116V, 135T, 136E, 142P, 153D, 154E, 161P, 163V, 192V, 204S, 210V, 217G, 221L, 225K, and 227R; (v) K4, S23, F29, S32, N34, Q36, K44, S51, D65, S77, N80, G87, E90, P97, V98, A99, T102, G112, T116, F119, S135, P136, A142, S153, Q154, D156, S157, A161, K163, N178, L192, A194, D202, G204, N205, F206, V208, T210, P212, S217, S221, S222, S225, K227, S232, T233, T236, S237, T238, T241, A247, S249, and G258; (vi) K4, F29, S32, Q36, S51, S77, N80, G87, E90, T102, G112, T116, S135, P136, A142, S153, Q154, A161, K163, L192, G204, T210, S217, S221, S225, and K227; (vii) K4V, S23L, F29W, S32D/G/Y, N34D, Q36T, K44V, S51T, D65G, S77K/M, N80S, G87A, E90A, P97S, V98G/Y, A99E/H/Y, T102K, G112S/T/V, T116V, F119L, S135T, P36E/K/S, A142E/P, S153D, Q154E, D156G, S157D, A161E/P, K163V, N178H, L192V, A194S, D202E, G204S, N205D, F206S, V208H/K, T210V, P212S, S217G/M, S221L/M, S222A, S225K, K227R, S232T, T233A/S, T236A, S237D, T238D, T241A/L/R, A247T, S249G/P, and G258K; or (viii) K4V, F29W, S32D, Q36T, S51T, S77K/M, N80S, G87A, E90A, T102K, G112S/T, T116V, S135T, P136E, A142P, S153D, Q154E, A161P, K163V, L192V, G204S, T210V, S217G, S221L, S225K, and K227R; wherein said variant has endoglucanase activity, and wherein the amino acid positions of the variant, or active fragment thereof, are numbered by correspondence with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 2. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of claim 1, wherein said two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to two or more SEQ ID NO:1 positions are selected from: (i) 142+161, 4+142, 36+142, 4+77, 77+142, 87+142, 87+161, 142+204, 4+161, 161+204, 102+161, 142+192, 142+227, 153+161, 4+102, 4+210, 29+153, 32+142, 36+161, 36+221, 36+225, 87+204, 90+142, 116+161, 135+142, 135+154, 135+161, 136+161, 204+221, 4V+80S, 4+153, 4+221, 32+36, 32+142, 77+142, 77+153, 77+161, 77+221, 80+142, 87+153, 87+192, 87+221, 102+136, 102+142, 102+154, 112+135, 112+142, 142+153, 142+217, 142+221, 153+210, 154+161, 161+192, and 161+221; (ii) 142P+161P, 4V+142P, 36T+142P, 4V+77K, 77K+142P, 87A+142P, 87A+161P, 142P+204S, 4V+161P, 161P+204S, 102K+161P, 142P+192V, 142P+227R, 153D+161P, 4V+102K, 4V+210V, 29W+153D, 32D+142P, 36T+161P, 36T+221L, 36T+225K, 87A+204S, 90A+142P, 116V+161P, 135T+142P, 135T+154E, 135T+161P, 136E+161P, 204S+221L, 4V+80S, 4V+153D, 4V+221L, 32D+36T, 32Y+142P, 77M+142P, 77K+153D, 77K+161P, 77K+221L, 80S+142P, 87A+153D, 87A+192V, 87A+221L, 102K+136E, 102K+142P, 102K+154E, 112T+135T, 112S+142P, 142P+153D, 142P+217G, 142P+221L, 153D+210V, 154E+161P, 161P+192V, and 161P+221L; or (iii) A142P+A161P, K4V+A142P, Q36T+A142P, K4V+S77K, S77K+A142P, G87A+A142P, G87A+A161P, A142P+G204S, K4V+A161P, A161P+G204S, T102K+A161P, A142P+L192V, A142P+K227R, S153D+A161P, K4V+T102K, K4V+T210y, F29W+S153D, S32D+A142P, Q36T+A161P, Q36T+S221L, Q36T+S225K, G87A+G204S, E90A+A142P, T116V+A161P, S135T+A142P, S135T+Q154E, S135T+A161P, P136E+A161P, G204S+S221L, K4V+N80S, K4V+S153D, K4V+S221L, S32D+Q36T, S32Y+A142P, S77M+A142P, S77K+S153D, S77K+A161P, S77K+S221L, N80S+A142P, G87A+S153D, G87A+L192V, G87A+S221L, T102K+P136E, T102K+A142P, T102K+Q154E, G112T+S135T, G112S+A142P, A142P+S153D, A142P+S217G, A142P+S221L, S153D+T210V, Q154E+A161P, A161P+L192V, and A161P+S221L.
 3. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of claim 1 or 2, wherein said variant further comprises one or more mutations selected from: (i) a deletion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions corresponding to any SEQ ID NO:1 position between positions 213 and 257; (ii) a deletion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from D177, S232, T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243; (iii) a deletion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more positions corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 positions selected from D177, S232, T233, S234, T235, T236, S237, T238, K239, A240, T241, S242, and T243, wherein said deletions are selected from D177Z, T233Z, T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, and S232Z-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z; (iv) an insertion of one, two, three, four, five, six, or more amino acid residues after a position corresponding to position 233 of SEQ ID NO:1; (v) an insertion of one, two, three, four, five, six, or more amino acid residues after a position corresponding to position 233 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said insertion is selected from Z233.01T-Z233.02T-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05S-Z233.06T, Z233.01T-Z233.02A-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05K-Z233.06A-Z233.07T-Z233.08S-Z233.09T-Z233.10T, Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05D-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04D-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, and Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T; and (vi) a combination of (i) to (v).
 4. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim, wherein said two or more mutations at two or more positions corresponding to two or more SEQ ID NO:1 positions are selected from: K4V-Q36T-S77M-T102K-Q154E-N178H-S225K-S232Z-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, K4V-K44V-S77K-E90A-S135T-A142P-Q154E-L192V-V208H-S221L-S232Z-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z-A247T, K4V-N80S-G87A-Q154E-A161P-G204S-S221L-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, S32Y-T102K-A142P-G204S-V208H-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z-A247T, K4V-K44V-S77K-N80S-T102K-G112T-S135T-A142P-L192V-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z, S77M-A142P-K163V-V208H-T233Z-S234Z-T235Z-T236Z-S237Z-T238Z-K239Z-A240Z-T241Z-S242Z-T243Z-A247T, S77M-G87A-A99H-G112T-A142P-S232T-T233Z-T236A, S23L-A142P-D202E-S232T-T233Z, Q36T-S77K-G87A-A142P-S153D-A161P-G204S-S221L-S237D, K4V-F29W-S77K-T102K-P136E-S153D-A161P-T210V, A99Y-G112T-S135T-S153D-K227R, S23L-S32Y-G112T-A142P-A161P-G204S-S217G-K227R-S237D, F29W-Q36T-K44V-T116V-S135T-Q154E-A161P-S217G-S221L-S225K-T238D, K4V-Q36T-S77K-N80S-A142P-L192V-G204S-T210V-S221L, F29W-G87A-E90A-A99Y-A142P-S153D-K227R-S237D, K4V-S77M-Q154E-A161P-L192V-V208H-S217G-T233A-S237D, E90A-G112T-S135T-A161P-G204S, S51T-S77M-P136E-K163V-G204S-T210V-K227R, K4V-F29W-S51T-T116V-S135T-S221L-S225K, S77M-T102K-T116V-S135T-S153D-A161P-T238D, K4V-S23L-S32Y-N80S-T102K-A142P-A161P-S237D, K44V-G87A-Q154E-A161P, S32Y-A142P-Q154E-K163V-S217G-K227R-T233A, N34D-S51T-G87A-T102K-T116V-P136E-Q154E-A161P-L192V-T233A-T238D, K4V-S77K-E90A-A142P-S157D-G214Z-S217G-T233A-T238D, K4V-Q36T-S51T-N80S-S135T-S157D-T233A, K4V-S51T-V98G-S135T-Q154E-T233A, T102K-A142P-Q154E-G204S-K227R, S51T-G87A-A99Y-S135T-N205D-T238D, G87A-A142P-A161P-L192V-G204S-T241A, K4V-S77K-E90A-A142P-S157D-S217G-T233A-T238D, K4V-P136E-S153D-A161P-T210V-K227R, S51T-N80S-A142P-L192V-V208H, K4V-S23L-Q36T-S77M-G112T-S157D-A161P-L192V-S221L, Q36T-V98Y-A142P-A161E-S225K, Q36T-P136E-A142P-S225K-S249P, A99Y-P136E-A142P-A161E-S221L, S32D-Q36T-S221L-S225K, S32D-A99Y-A142P-A161E-S249P, K44V-A142P-A161P-K163V, S32D-Q36T-G112S-A142P, S32D-Q36T-S77M-S135T-A142P-A161P, F29W-S77M-A99E-A142P, G112S-P136K-A142E, S135T-A142P-K163V, K4V-G112S-S135T-A142P-A161P, S32D-Q36T-A99E-P136K-A142P, G112S-P136K-A142P-S217M-S221M-T241L-G258K, K4V-S77K-G112S-A142P-A194S-S249G-G258K, P97S-G112V-P136S-A142P-A161E-K163V-P212S-S222A, P97S-G112V-P136S-S153D-A161E-S225K-T241R, P97S-G112V-P136S-S153D-S225K-T241R, S32D-A142E-V208K-S225K-T241R, S32D-A142E, S51T-A99Y-F119L-P136E-Q154E-D156G-S217G, K44V-A142P-A161P-K163V-K227R-T236A, G112T-S135T-Q154E-T233S-Z233.01T-Z233.02T-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05S-Z233.06T-S237D, Q36T-S51T-V98G-T116V-A142P-A161P-T233S-Z233.01T-Z233.02A-Z233.03S-Z233.04T-Z233.05K-Z233.06A-Z233.07T-Z233.08S-Z233.09T-Z233.10T, Q36T-S77K-G87A-A142P-S153D-A161P-D177Z-G204S-S221L-S237D, K4V-F29W-S51T-D65G-S77M-T116V-S153D-K163V-G204S-F206S-T210V-S221L-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, S77M-S135T-Q154E-K163V-K227R-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05D-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T-S237D, K4V-S32G-Q36T-S77M-G87A-T116V-A142P-A161P-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04D-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T, and S77M-G87A-P136E-S157D-S221L-Z233.01S-Z233.02T-Z233.03T-Z233.04S-Z233.05T-Z233.06K-Z233.07A-Z233.08T-Z233.09S-Z233.10T-Z233.11T-T236A-T238D-K286E.
 5. The cellulase variant or active fragment of of any preceding claim, with the proviso that one or more of said mutations is non-naturally occurring.
 6. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim, wherein said variant comprises (i) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75; (ii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or less than 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 1-211 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 2; (iii) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 212-258 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 3; (iv) an amino acid sequence corresponding to position 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1 and having at least 60%, 67%, 68%, 70%, 73%, 75%, 76%, 80%, 81%, 83%, 84%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 259-295 of SEQ ID NO:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, or 75 set forth in FIG. 4; or (v) a combination of (i) to (iv).
 7. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim, wherein said variant has at least one improved property selected from improved thermostability, stability in the presence of one or more protease, and stability in the presence of one or more protease and one or more other detergent component when compared to a parent or reference polypeptide.
 8. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim, wherein said variant is derived from a parent or reference polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NOs:1, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and
 75. 9. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim, wherein the improved property is (i) improved thermostability and wherein said variant, or active fragment thereof, has a thermal PI that is greater than 1 or ≥1.1; (ii) improved stability in the presence of one or more protease and wherein said variant, or active fragment thereof, has a PI that is greater than 1 or ≥1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, or 2.0 when the stability of said variant, or active fragment thereof is tested in the presence of said protease; and/or (iii) improved stability in the presence of one or more protease and one or more other detergent component, and wherein said variant, or active fragment thereof, has a PI that is greater than 1 or ≥1.1, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 when the stability of said variant, or active fragment thereof is tested in the presence of said protease and said other detergent component.
 10. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of claim 9, wherein the PI is measured in accordance with the Cellulase Activity Assay of Example
 1. 11. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of claim 9 or 10, wherein the other detergent component is a surfactant.
 12. The cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim, wherein said variant, or active fragment thereof, is a family GH45 cellulase.
 13. A composition comprising the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any preceding claim.
 14. The composition of claim 13, wherein said composition is selected from an enzyme composition, detergent composition, and fabric care composition.
 15. The composition of claim 13 or 14, further comprising (i) one or more other enzymes selected from the group consisting of acyl transferases, amylases, alpha-amylases, beta-amylases, alpha-galactosidases, arabinases, arabinosidases, aryl esterases, beta-galactosidases, beta-glucanases, carrageenases, catalases, chondroitinases, cutinases, endo-beta-mannanases, exo-beta-mannanases, esterases, exo-mannanases, galactanases, glucoamylases, hemicellulases, hyaluronidases, keratinases, laccases, lactases, ligninases, lipases, lipolytic enzymes, lipoxygenases, mannanases, metalloproteases, oxidases, oxidoreductases, pectate lyases, pectin acetyl esterases, pectinases, pentosanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, phenoloxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phytases, polyesterases, polygalacturonases, proteases, pullulanases, reductases, rhamnogalacturonases, second cellulase, beta-glucanases, tannases, transglutaminases, xylan acetyl-esterases, xylanases, and xylosidases; (ii) one or more surfactants; (iii) one or more ions selected from calcium and zinc; (iv) one or more adjunct ingredients; (v) one or more stabilizers; (vi) from about 0.001% to about 5.0 weight % of said cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof of any one of claims 1-15; (vii) one or more bleaching agents; and/or (viii) combinations thereof.
 16. The composition of any one of claims 13-15, wherein said composition is a laundry detergent.
 17. The composition of any one of claims 13-16, wherein the composition is in a form selected from a liquid, a powder, a granulated solid, a tablet, a sheet, and a unit dose.
 18. The composition of any one of claims 13-17, wherein said composition contains phosphate or is phosphate-free and/or contains boron or is boron-free.
 19. A polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof of any one of claims 1-12.
 20. An expression vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim
 19. 21. A host cell comprising the expression vector of claim
 20. 22. A method for producing the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof of any one of claims 1-12 comprising: (a) stably transforming the host cell of claim 21 with the expression vector of claim 20; (b) cultivating said transformed host cell under conditions suitable for said host cell to produce said cellulase variant or active fragment thereof and (c) recovering said cellulase variant or active fragment thereof.
 23. Use of the cellulase variant, or active fragment thereof, of any one of claims 1-12 in an enzyme composition, detergent composition, fabric care composition, textile finishing process, or paper and pulp process. 